Wednesday, May 22, 2013

QA Medical Weight Loss Donates 4000 Hygiene Items to Seattle's Homeless!

There is something remarkable about watching the human spirit conquer adversity. For those living in poverty, adversity is a daily battle. In Seattle, poverty is around every corner; the streets of downtown are full of those the world has cast aside. It's easy to walk past the harsh realities of these people, unaware of the gravity of their situations. Poverty is mentally and physically crippling, and nearly impossible to climb out of without assistance.

Mark Provenzano, Barb Boni,
and Margaret Provenzano deliver
donations to Hope Place.
Our Weight Loss Program's Medical Director, Linda Gromko MD, volunteers at the Union Gospel Mission - one of many organizations that serve the urban poor.

"I volunteer serving meals at our local Union Gospel Mission about once a month. One night, I rode with UGM's Rescue Van. We delivered blankets and hot beverages to homeless folk under the freeway bridges. Women would come up to us and ask for feminine hygiene products. It was heart-breaking," said Dr. Gromko.
In the Spring of 2013, QA Medical Weight Loss launched the Spring Clean-Up Drive. Along with contributions from our neighbors in the building, we collected 4000 hygiene items for the Union Gospel Mission. Items included toothbrushes and hand sanitizer, and a remarkable array of feminine hygiene products.

The staff of Queen Anne Medical Associates, PLLC, and Queen Anne Medical Weight Loss presented the 4000 items to UGM, and took a tour of Hope Place - the Women's Shelter associated with the UGM. Said Weight Loss Program Director, Mark Provenzano,

"I felt blessed to see where all our donations were going. Hope Place is state-of-the-art, with programs for women and their children. The residents come from all walks of life. They receive care, but are also members of a community, and are responsible for the care and maintenance of the building. It's a great program."
Though our Spring Clean-Up Drive was very successful, there is always a need for additional aid for those in poverty. If you are interested in becoming involved, reach out to either Queen Anne Medical Weight Loss, Union Gospel Mission, or any other organization working to aid those less fortunate. Remember,

"The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others."     -Ghandi

Special thanks to all the donors and supporters who made the Spring Clean-Up Drive so successful!

Remember, we're all in this together.
Mark Provenzano
Program Director