Rock Hill hospital seeks cereal for Healthy Over Hungry food drive

Piedmont Medical Center will be accepting boxed cereal donations through June 10, in an effort to provide a healthy breakfast to hungry children and adults.

“At Piedmont Medical Center, we recognize the impact hunger has on health and nutrition, and our staff is eager to make a difference,” said Christina Oh, PMC chief operating officer.

Daisy Burroughs, community relations coordinator, said the hospital will have collection bins at every entrance beginning Friday through June 10, during its Healthy Over Hungry Cereal Drive.

The donated cereal will go to Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina, a member of the Feeding America network, which helps supply food pantries in 19 counties in North and South Carolina, including those in York County.

Cereal “is nonperishable, and it’s easy to understand the concept,” Burroughs said, “because breakfast doesn’t take a summer break. These are going to go to those kids who rely on meals at school on free- and reduced-lunch.”

Experts say whole-grain cereal can help address the hunger gap.

Burroughs said the hospital collected 223 boxes of cereal during a similar drive last year. This year, she said, the hospital set a goal of at least 300 cereal boxes.

Last year, she said, the hospital promoted the drive with a cereal “bowling contest,” with weighted cereal boxes as bowling pins. This year, Burroughs said, the Piedmont Medical Center plans a June 9 cereal-eating contest with its administrative team.

Kay Carter, chief operating officer of Second Harvest, said summer is a difficult time for food banks “because many children in need can no longer rely on their school meals for a nutritious breakfast, so their families often turn to us.”

This story was originally published June 2, 2016 at 3:06 PM with the headline "Rock Hill hospital seeks cereal for Healthy Over Hungry food drive."