Food giveaway at Dignity Health Northridge Hospital had a surprise, a turkey – Daily News

At the monthly food giveaway at Dignity Health – Northridge Hospital, the hospital’s free service to families and others in need was all the more important because it was Thanksgiving.

Eating a variety of fruits and vegetables daily is emphasized at this drive-thru produce giveaway in which hospital staffers volunteer to help. But this week was different: they also distributed free turkeys for families and others.

Employees at the hospital say the monthly food giveaway on every fourth Thursday, which began in July 2021, is a great way to bring the community together. According to the American Heart Association, Los Angeles County is home to the largest population of food-insecure people in the nation.

The monthly food giveaway is thanks to a partnership between Dignity Health – Northridge Hospital and The American Heart Association, the first of its kind in the San Fernando Valley, according to hospital officials.

The American Heart Association manages the distribution of the food, which it gets from different farmers in the Los Angeles area.

• Cars line up for free turkeys and produce at the Dignity Health – American Heart Association turkey and fresh produce hand-out at Dignity Health – Northridge Hospital Tuesday, November 22, 2022. Dignity Health and the American Heart Association gave away 300 turkeys and 8,000 pounds on fresh produce at the event. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

• Letty Hernandez of Dignity Health places fresh produce in a car at the Dignity Health – American Heart Association turkey and fresh produce hand-out at Dignity Health – Northridge Hospital Tuesday, November 22, 2022. Dignity Health and the American Heart Association gave away 300 turkeys and 8,000 pounds on fresh produce at the event. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

• Elena Agyepong, left, and Itza Barbara Gonzalez, both of Dignity Health, sort tomatoes to be given away at the Dignity Health – American Heart Association turkey and fresh produce hand-out at Dignity Health – Northridge Hospital Tuesday, November 22, 2022. Dignity Health and the American Heart Association gave away 300 turkeys and 8,000 pounds on fresh produce at the event. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

• Cars drive through at the Dignity Health – American Heart Association turkey and fresh produce hand-out at Dignity Health – Northridge Hospital Tuesday, November 22, 2022. Dignity Health and the American Heart Association gave away 300 turkeys and 8,000 pounds on fresh produce at the event. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

• Elena Agyepong and Itza Barbara Gonzalez, both of Dignity Health, sort tomatoes to be given away at the Dignity Health – American Heart Association turkey and fresh produce hand-out at Dignity Health – Northridge Hospital Tuesday, November 22, 2022. Dignity Health and the American Heart Association gave away 300 turkeys and 8,000 pounds on fresh produce at the event. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

• Yaw Daaku of Northridge Hospital places a free turkeys at the Dignity Health – American Heart Association turkey and fresh produce hand-out at Dignity Health – Northridge Hospital Tuesday, November 22, 2022. Dignity Health and the American Heart Association gave away 300 turkeys and 8,000 pounds on fresh produce at the event. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

• Yaw Daaku of Northridge Hospital places a free turkey in a car at the Dignity Health – American Heart Association turkey and fresh produce hand-out at Dignity Health – Northridge Hospital Tuesday, November 22, 2022. Dignity Health and the American Heart Association gave away 300 turkeys and 8,000 pounds on fresh produce at the event. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

• Cars drive through at the Dignity Health – American Heart Association turkey and fresh produce hand-out at Dignity Health – Northridge Hospital Tuesday, November 22, 2022. Dignity Health and the American Heart Association gave away 300 turkeys and 8,000 pounds on fresh produce at the event. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)