National Jewish Health to Collect Food to Benefit the Food Bank of the Rockies and Volunteers of Ame

National Jewish Health will use the occasion of its 110th anniversary and holiday celebration to host a food drive to benefit the Food Bank of the Rockies and Volunteers of America.

"National Jewish Health opened its doors 110 years ago to serve indigent tuberculosis patients who had nowhere else to turn for help," said Michael Salem, MD, President and CEO of National Jewish Health. "During this extreme time of need for so many Colorado families we are pleased to continue our tradition of helping those in need by hosting this food drive."

National Jewish is partnering with Mile High United Way to collect donations for the Food Bank of the Rockies and Volunteers of America. On December 3, from 10:30-1:30, National Jewish will collect food and monetary donations from its employees and neighbors at the Molly Blank Conference Center. Mesa Systems, Inc has donated staff and trucks to assist in the effort.

National Jewish was founded as a charity hospital to provide care at no cost to patients. For almost 70 years, not a single patient paid for treatment at National Jewish. Today, the tradition of caring for needy patients continues at National Jewish, where all patients are treated regardless of their ability to pay. In 2009 the recession left more National Jewish patients unable to pay than ever before. The amount of charity care provided by National Jewish jumped by 70 percent, from $6.7 million to $11.4 million.

Preferred donations include non-perishable foods including vegetables, fruit, canned meat, fish and other entrees, peanut butter, soup, cereal, and pasta in unbreakable containers.