Aramark Volunteers Create Health and Wellness Hub for Vancouver Children and Families
Employees volunteer at the Britannia Community Services Centre as part of first annual Global Volunteer Day
Vancouver, British Columbia, CANADA, March 18, 2014 /3BL Media/ – Children and families in Vancouver face a multitude of health challenges. In fact, childhood obesity is on the rise in Canada: over the last 25 years, youth obesity rates have tripled according to the British Columbia Ministry of Health.
Recognizing this issue in Vancouver, and around the world, 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 18, Vancouver-area employees will join Britannia Services Centre in an effort to provide children and families with better access to healthy food, nutritional education and active play and physical activity spaces.
Today at the Britannia Community Services Center Society in the Grandview-Woodland section of Vancouver, Aramark will support a year-round hub of health and wellness education and awareness. To help provide fresh, healthy food for residents of the area, volunteers will build several planter beds so the community can grow their own fruits and vegetables. Aramark employees will also refurbish the center’s playground and basketball courts, and add nutrition education murals to the outdoor play space, to encourage healthy activity and learning at the center.
“Our employees are passionate about helping others, not only here in Vancouver, but in cities around the world,” said Lynn Ervin, Vice President, Human Resources for Aramark Canada. “Global Volunteer Day is part of Aramark’s ongoing commitment to enabling people everywhere to make informed decisions about nutrition and wellness.”
“As one of Aramark’s international partners on this Global Day of Service, we’re honored to have the company’s volunteers join us in serving hundreds of kids every day,” said Gwen Giesbrecht, President of the Britannia Community Services Centre. “Today’s enhancements will have long-lasting impact on our community’s residents and children.”
In communities where low-income residents have little access to nutritious and healthy options, childhood obesity is at its worst. The Aramark Healthy For Life™ community engagement program educates 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 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 Vancouver 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, in partnership with community centers around the world, 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 Britannia Community Services Centre
Britannia has its origin in cooperative community action. Local citizens and various civic agencies created the organization in 1974 to coordinate and integrate a wide range of human services. Through a locally elected Board of Management, the non-profit society provides a leadership role in developing and facilitating education, recreational, library and social services for the communities of Grandview-Woodland and Strathcona.
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.
