ARAMARK Launches Vital Community Nutrition Education Initiative in partnership with Neighborhood House Association

SAN DIEGO, Oct. 2, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- With minimal resources stretched to the limit, low-income families living in the heart of San Diego are challenged to provide adequate nutritious food, access to physical activity, and quality healthcare not only for themselves, but also for loved ones who suffer from disabling physical, mental or developmental impairments.  

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To aid low-income San Diego families caring for disabled family members, ARAMARK is establishing an ARAMARK Building Community Opportunity Zone for health and wellness at the Neighborhood House Association's Adult Day Health Care Center (ADHC). This event kicks off a new partnership between ARAMARK and Neighborhood House Association, a multipurpose human service agency that provides a wide range of services to help families in need. Together, ARAMARK and the Neighborhood House Association will focus on nutrition and wellness education at ADHC so that families can embrace healthier lifestyles for improved overall health.

"At ARAMARK, we are committed to enriching the lives of families in our communities. Our employees are proud to volunteer to help one of San Diego's strongest community service associations," said Brad Drummond, Chief Operating Officer, ARAMARK Uniform Services. "Today's event marks the beginning of a new collaboration that will help us make an even greater impact in the region."

The event is part of ARAMARK Building Community, the company's commitment to enriching lives by helping people improve their health, secure jobs and move out of poverty both in San Diego and in 52 cities around the world.

"ARAMARK's partnership with Neighborhood House Association has been instrumental in building support for our underserved communities," said Rudolph A. Johnson, III, President and CEO of Neighborhood House Association. "ARAMARK Building Community is a shining example of how corporations can work with nonprofits to make a difference and directly impact the lives of others. ARAMARK's generous improvements to our Adult Day Health Care Center have allowed staff to provide ongoing quality care in an environment that represents a commitment to excellence."

Volunteers will create a community garden with customized planters that will be accessible to the center's physically disabled clients. Not only will these micro-farms provide fruits and vegetables for meals at the center, but also they will encourage those who are wheelchair-bound or have restricted range of motion to join in the low-impact exercise of gardening outdoors. Company experts will return throughout the year to conduct nutrition and wellness workshops for the families whose disabled loved ones use the facility every day.

Every year, the ADHC serves more than 115 adults who need nursing services, rehabilitative therapies, nutrition and psycho-social services as well as personal care assistance. Altogether the Neighborhood House Association serves some 24,000 people citywide.

About Neighborhood House Association
Neighborhood House Association (NHA) was founded in 1914 and is one of San Diego County's largest multi-purpose human services agencies.  NHA helps thousands of individuals and families improve their quality of life by providing vital social services including employment, healthcare, child, family and senior services.  Visit www.neighborhoodhouse.org for more information. 

About ARAMARK Building Community
ARAMARK Building Community enriches lives by helping families improve their health, secure jobs and move out of poverty. In partnership with community centers around the world, employee volunteers lend their nutrition, culinary, job readiness and facilities management expertise to ensure people can succeed. ARAMARK provides a range of resources, and since 2008 has invested more than $8 million in volunteer expertise, cash and in-kind resources to strengthen the capacity of local community centers, involving 18,000 ARAMARK volunteers through over 500 volunteer activities.  Nearly 3.5 million individuals and families served by community centers in nearly 52 cities have been aided by the program. Visit ARAMARK for more information. Please join us on Facebook.

About ARAMARK
ARAMARK delivers experiences that enrich and nourish people's lives through innovative food, facility, and uniform services. Our more than 250,000 employees around the world demonstrate our corporate responsibility values every day, and we are recognized among the Most Admired Companies by Fortune and World's Most Ethical Companies by the Ethisphere Institute.  Learn more at www.aramark.com or connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.

Contact: Mary Rucci, ARAMARK
215-238-7110 
Luis Gonzalez, Neighborhood House
619-518-8958
[email protected] 

SOURCE ARAMARK