Hunger is a healthcare issue. That’s why hospitals, physicians and dentists across the state are joining to collect food and cash for local food banks in September.

“Healthcare Fights Hunger” is a food drive from Sept. 15-22 coordinated across the state through the Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association, the Arizona Academy of General Dentistry, the Arizona Medical Association and the Arizona Association of Food Banks. The drive coincides with National Hunger Action Month.

“Besides learning, hunger hinders growth and development, and a child’s ability to fight infection and heal from injuries,” said Pamela Murphy, MD, pediatrician at Mendy’s Place, an emergency center for children at John C. Lincoln Deer Valley Hospital. “While proper nutrition is certainly important to children and teens, it’s also especially important to the elderly. We view hunger as a healthcare issue, and we’re urging employees, physicians, patients and visitors to end it by donating non-perishable food or cash to the drive,” she said.

Pamela Murphy, MD, pediatrician at John C. Lincoln’s Mendy’s Place, has some fun with her son, Matt, in preparation for Healthcare Fights Hunger. Healthcare organizations throughout Arizona are collecting food and cash Sept. 15-22 to help fill the shelves of the state's food banks (submitted photo).

Sharon Pierson, director of the John C. Lincoln Health Network’s Desert Mission Food Bank, noted that, “John C. Lincoln Health Network is, to our knowledge, the only hospital in the nation with a food bank. We are grateful that others are now recognizing that hunger is indeed a healthcare issue.” The food bank, located on the campus of John C. Lincoln North Mountain Hospital in Sunnyslope, was founded in the 1920s.

The Arizona Association of Food Banks is making it easier for medical and dental practices to participate by providing collection cans, labeled with the Healthcare Fights Hunger information and logo, so that employees and patients can contribute cash. The cash and food collected in each community will stay in those communities. Cash will be used by local food banks to purchase food, and donated food will go right onto the shelves of the local food banks.

For more information, go to www.azfoodbanks.org  or call 602-528-3434.