Employees at Dignity Health-Glendale Memorial Hospital and Health Center (GMHHC) are paying it forward by donating meals to families in need at the Family Promise of the Verdugos, a Burbank homeless shelter. The GMHHC team members during the pandemic received countless generous donations from local businesses and wanted to help others and contribute to those most in need in local communities.

“Many of our families are experiencing an increased level of stress due to the circumstances of the pandemic. Having donated meals from Glendale Memorial not only provides nutrition, but also the simple joy of knowing others are thinking about them,” shared Albert Hernandez, executive director of Family Promise of the Verdugos.

The funds raised by the GMHHC team provided meals for more than 50 situationally homeless people at Family Promise of the Verdugos. The hospital purchased these meals from Anoush, a family-owned restaurant that fed the GMHHC team on numerous occasions during the pandemic, as a way to support local businesses that are also struggling during this time.

“The Glendale Memorial team has been overwhelmed with the generosity the community has demonstrated towards our healthcare personnel during the pandemic. By coming together with the desire to spread kindness, our staff personally donated to our feed the homeless efforts,” said Rev. Cassie McCarty, GMHHC director of Mission Integration and Spiritual Care Services. “Because the hospital employees have contributed thousands of dollars, we are able to continue meal deliveries in the coming weeks for other organizations helping the homeless.”