Press Releases

APPLE VALLEY — The members of a local Rotary are taking money usually spent on monthly lunch gatherings and donating it to the St. Mary Medical Center Foundation’s newly formed Emergency Response and Recovery Fund.

As efforts to contain COVID-19 ramp up, thousands of High Desert students are out of school and many families are out of work. This is placing an enormous strain on the High Desert community, Rotary Club of Apple Valley President Raghada Khoury told the Daily Press.

“We’re donating the money to the foundation so they help replenish the inventory of the local food banks,” Khoury said. “We’re doing this with the hope of encouraging others to contribute to the foundation for the purpose of feeding those affected during the coronavirus pandemic.”

The club will donate $2,000 in lunch money, Khoury said.

In a statement, St. Mary Chief Philanthropy Officer John Kozyra said the fund was established last month “to care for our neighbors.” He added that proceeds will go toward food banks, rescue missions, homeless shelters and other community partners in the High Desert.

“Our mission at St. Mary is to care for everyone in our community, including those who are poor and vulnerable,” Kozyra said.

The St. Mary Medical Center Foundation is a not-for-profit foundation co-ministered by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange, according to the statement.

On Friday, Kozyra told the Daily Press the foundation’s Emergency Response and Recovery Fund was set up “in response to current needs.”

“We want to be a good community partner as the High Desert works through this time,” he said.