(L-R): Salvatore Perla, President of Nashoba Valley Medical Center; Patricia Stern, Executive Director of Loaves & Fishes; and Gary Donia, Physical Therapist and Hunger Run Race Director.

Nashoba Valley Medical Center recently donated $8,000 to Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry, Inc. The generous donation was a result of proceeds from the hospital’s annual 5K Hunger Run road race, which was held on October 17, 2015.

Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry is a non-profit organization that provides food and temporary support services to residents of Ayer, Devens, Groton, Harvard, Littleton, and Shirley. The organization also advocates for changes that will promote independence and self-reliance for its clients. In 2015, the pantry distributed approximately 600,000 pounds of food to over 860 families. 

“Helping those living in the Nashoba Valley region who are in need is of outmost importance to our hospital community,” said Nashoba Valley Medical Center President, Salvatore Perla. “We are very pleased to provide this donation to Loaves & Fishes knowing it will go a long way to help ensure needs are met for these community members.”

This is the fourth year that Nashoba Valley Medical Center has held the 5K Hunger Run, and donated the proceeds to Loaves & Fishes. The event attracted more than 250 participants who also donated 915 pounds of food to the organization. Nashoba Valley Medical Center’s 2016 Hunger Run 5K will be held on Saturday, October 15, 2016.

To learn more about the Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry, visit www.loavesfishespantry.org. 

About Nashoba Valley Medical Center
Nashoba Valley Medical Center (NVMC) offers community-based primary care and specialty services. NVMC was a recipient of the Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval and was named to The Leapfrog Group’s annual list of Top Hospitals in 2014. Areas of clinical strength include emergency medicine, diagnostic imaging, cardiology, gastroenterology, ophthalmology, oncology, orthopedics, physical therapy and general surgery. NVMC also offers a comprehensive Diabetes and Endocrine Center, Travel Clinic and Occupational Health Services. Nashoba Valley Medical Center is part of the Steward Health Care System LLC, the largest integrated community care organization in New England which combines over 3,000 physicians, 10 acute care hospital campuses, managed care, insurance programs, home care, an imaging operation, and a number of other post-acute services, to provide the most cost effective and highest quality of integrated patient care. Additional information is available at www.nashobamed.org.