St. Joseph Health announced Wednesday it will provide $1 million in grants to 33 nonprofit organizations, including 19 in Orange County, that help provide basic needs for the hungry and homeless.
Irvine-based St. Joseph Health, founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange, is a not-for-profit, integrated health care delivery system that includes 16 hospitals, physician organizations, home health agencies, hospice care, outpatient services and community outreach services.
St. Joseph Health’s hospitals each contribute 10 percent of their net income to be used to create healthier communities.
“This commitment to caring for our neighbors is one of the ways we translate our values into action,” said Annette M. Walker, interim president and CEO of St. Joseph Health. “We want to improve the overall health and quality of life of people in the communities we serve.
“This initiative is aimed at providing for their most immediate needs, the need for food and the need for shelter,” she said. “Hunger and homelessness are huge obstacles to health and well-being. We know, for example, that food insecurity is connected with chronic health problems, poor performance in school and higher levels of anxiety.”
According to a recent report from the United Way of California, one in three households statewide do not have enough income to meet their basic costs of living.
“Hunger isn’t an issue confined to certain neighborhoods,” said Nicole Suydam, CEO of Second Harvest Food Bank in Irvine, which will use its grant to provide fresh produce to 34,200 people through its Mobile Pantry, School Pantry and Senior Grocery programs.
“Many of the people struggling with hunger are hard-working people forced to choose between paying rent and eating,” she said. “We also see lots of seniors on fixed incomes who can’t afford meals. St. Joseph Health’s support helps us provide nutritious food to these individuals.”
In addition to the grant recipients in Orange County, eight programs in the Northern California counties of Sonoma, Napa and Humboldt and six in High Desert communities, including the San Bernardino-based High Desert Family Assistance Program, received funds.