DHMH donates 5,926 pounds of food, $5,185 to Maryland Food Bank
Day of Service efforts target food instability in the state
Baltimore, MD (September 4, 2015) – In coordination with the State of Maryland’s Day of Service – a volunteerism effort designed by Gov. Larry Hogan – Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH) employees donated food and money to the Maryland Food Bank last month.
According to the Food Bank, DHMH’s total food collection was 5,926 pounds, which is equivalent to 4,938 meals for hungry Marylanders. And DHMH raised $5,185 in a virtual food drive, which equals 15,555 meals, for a total of 21,481 meals.
“The problem of food instability can have a range of serious consequences in our communities,” said DHMH Secretary Van T. Mitchell. “It is important for people to eat the proper foods as a foundation for health and wellness. We are happy to have been able to help fight food instability as part of our Day of Service.”
DHMH’s food drive ran Aug. 12-18. The department also encouraged its employees to use a half-day they were allotted for volunteerism by serving at the Food Bank.
The department’s Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Control works in Maryland communities to increase opportunities for healthy eating and physical activity, to provide education on chronic disease prevention and management, and to build community environments where the healthy choice is the easy choice. For more information, please visit
http://goo.gl/muj1f8.
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The Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene is the state government agency that protects Maryland’s public health and also works to help Marylanders make better health decisions for better health outcomes. Stay connected: www.twitter.com/MarylandDHMH and www.facebook.com/MarylandDHMH.