Optum volunteers distribute 400 turkeys and pies in Downey

Volunteers distribute turkeys and pies to local seniors in Downey at a food donation drive through event. The event was organized by SBHIS Insurance Services, which brought together various partners including Optum, UnitedHealthcare, Wider Circle and SCAN Health to distribute more than 400 turkey and pies to seniors in Downey.

DOWNEY — Saturday morning, several dozen volunteers from Optum - a leading health services company with seven medical and specialty clinics in Downey - gathered in the parking lot of the Florence Avenue clinic to distribute 400 turkeys and pies to our community’s seniors.

Making sure 400 people have a turkey dinner for Thanksgiving was a heart-warming way to begin the holiday season.

The turkey donation comes at a critical time as food banks and food pantries continue to experience a spike in usage due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. A recent report from the national non-profit Feeding America estimates that food banks are serving 55 percent more people than before the pandemic.

“We are pleased to participate in this event. This is a wonderful opportunity for our community to come together and support our seniors, many of whom need healthy food and may be alone due to expanded social distancing measures,” said Dr. Amar Desai, M.D., CEO, Optum California. “Our goal is to serve communities who face many of the harshest impacts of COVID-19. As part of that commitment, we work with community partners to provide food to those individuals who are most vulnerable.”

The event was organized by SBHIS Insurance Services, which brought together various partners including Optum, UnitedHealthcare, Wider Circle and SCAN Health to help distribute the turkeys and pies to seniors in Downey. More than a dozen Optum employees participated.

The turkey give-away in Downey was one of two events taking place over the weekend. An additional 400 turkeys were distributed on Sunday by Optum volunteers in Torrance.