BECKLEY, W.Va. – Beckley ARH Hospital CEO Todd Howell presented a $5,000 check to Salvation Army of Beckley Capt. Liz Blusiewicz Thursday to help the organization in its efforts to provide Thanksgiving meals to community members in need.

“Our mission at ARH is to improve the health and well-being of our communities,” said Howell, who presented the donation on behalf of the ARH Foundation for Healthier Communities. “If someone doesn’t have enough to eat or doesn’t know where their next meal will come from or how they will feed their family, that really impacts all aspects of their health.

“Our providers take care of our community every day in their offices and inside our hospital,” he continued, “But partnerships like this one with the Salvation Army allow us to care for them outside of our facilities in their daily lives as well.”

This is the second year for the partnership, which, Blusiewicz said, allows the Salvation Army to feed more than 500 Raleigh County families.

“We never want a family to choose between putting food on the table for their family or paying the light bill,” she said. “We want to meet people at their point of need and let them know you are never alone and there’s always a seat at the table for you.”

Blusiewicz thanked ARH for its donation and for its support of the greater community.

“We are beyond excited and beyond humbled,” she said of the donation. “It means a lot to us to know ARH is our neighbor, both physically and spiritually, and they’re here for the community. I think that resonates to all the people who will come to this dinner to know that it’s beyond just health and wellness.

“It’s about the community.”

Caring for the community, ARH Foundation Executive Director Angie Bailey said, is what it’s all about.

“At the ARH Foundation, we believe food is medicine, and no one should go without a warm meal on Thanksgiving,” she said. “The Salvation Army is on the ground every day meeting people where they are and offering help when it’s needed most. Supporting organizations like theirs allows us to reach more people, meet more needs and make a lasting difference in the health and well-being of our communities.”

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