Aramark Helps Los Angeles Children to Live Healthier Lives
At Salvation Army in Van Nuys, more than 100 area employees join first annual Global Volunteer Day
Los Angeles, CA, March 19, 2014 /3BL Media/ – Many Los Angeles children face a number of health and wellness issues as they grow up. Researchers have found that for many families, ongoing economic hardship contributes to obesity and other nutrition-related illnesses as families struggle to provide fresh and healthy food and nutritious meals for their children.
Recognizing the health and wellness issues families in Los Angeles face, Aramark is extending its health and wellness platform and commitment, Healthy For Life™, into underserved communities during the company’s inaugural Global Volunteer Day on March 19. In partnership with The Salvation Army’s Van Nuys Corps, more than 100 Los Angeles-area employees will join colleagues in an effort to provide children and families with better access to healthy food, nutritional education and active play and physical activity spaces.
“Aramark employees have a passion for service and a commitment to strengthen our local communities,” said Brad Drummond, President and COO, Aramark Uniform Services. “Global Volunteer Day marks a wonderful opportunity to demonstrate our passion and desire to inspiring children here in Los Angeles, and around the world, to lead healthy lives.”
“The Salvation Army depends on individuals and corporations with a commitment to public service,” said Major Kyle Smith, General Secretary of the Salvation Army Southern California Division. “This Global Volunteer Day truly demonstrates that Aramark is such an entity and we are deeply grateful for their generosity.”
At The Salvation Army in Van Nuys, Aramark will establish a Healthy for Life™ Zone that will be a year-round hub of health and wellness education and awareness programs. Aramark employees will create an urban garden, building garden beds for fresh healthy produce, and an outdoor classroom for nutrition education. To encourage children to join in active play and fitness, volunteers will also renovate the center’s sports facilities, refurbishing basketball courts and soccer areas and painting inspirational sports and fitness murals.
The Aramark Healthy for Life™ community engagement program will educate families on the simple steps and concepts such as finding healthy choices on a limited budget, preparing inexpensive, nutritious meals and introducing children to healthy food choices.
Global Volunteer Day is an expansion of Aramark Building Community, the company’s longtime volunteer and philanthropic program that enriches lives by helping improve family health, prepare youth and adults for work and support individuals working their way out of poverty in Los Angeles and in 52 cities around the world. Through Aramark Building Community, the company donates time, expertise, financial and in-kind resources to help families in need. Since 2008, more than 20,000 Aramark employees have impacted the lives of some four million families. Please join us on Facebook.
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About The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army, an evangelical part of the universal Christian church established in 1865, has been supporting those in need in His name without discrimination for 126 years in the United States. More than 30 million Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army each year through the broadest array of social services that range from providing food for the hungry, relief for disaster victims, assistance for the disabled, outreach to the elderly and ill, clothing and shelter to the homeless and opportunities for underprivileged children. About 82 cents of every dollar raised is used to support those services in 7,000 communities nationwide. For more information, go to www.salvationarmy-socal.org.
About Aramark
Aramark (NYSE: ARMK) is in the customer service business across food, facilities and uniforms, wherever people work, learn, recover, and play. United by a passion to serve, our more than 270,000 employees deliver experiences that enrich and nourish the lives of millions of people in 22 countries around the world every day. Aramark is recognized among the Most Admired Companies by FORTUNE and the World’s Most Ethical Companies by the Ethisphere Institute. Learn more at www.aramark.com or connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.
