Highlands-Cashiers Hospital collected 2,312 pounds of canned food during its fifth annual Healthy Food for Healthier Tomorrow Food and Nutrition Drive as part of the HCA Healthcare food sculpture competition. This year’s entry was a life-size CT scanner measuring 12 feet long, 5 feet 6 inches wide and 6 feet tall, equipped with lights and a replica of CEO and CNO Tom Neal.
“This year, we really looked at what is the most significant thing,” said Neal. “And for us, it was really the investment in bringing new technology to our imaging department. Five million dollars were invested to bring a new CT scanner and MRI into our hospital.”
The entry was designed with the help of local artist Cath Connolly Hudson, and volunteers Robin Neal and Betsy Carson aided in the construction effort. Tom Neal thanked Morrison’s Cafeteria, which provides food services for the hospital, for its significant donation of canned goods, and Bryson’s Food Store for providing discounts on large purchases.
“This is a work of art and a great exploration of creativity, and it’s kind of the perfect artwork, because it’s also for a great cause to help feed the less fortunate in our community,” said Mayor Patrick Taylor.
The cans were donated to Fishes and Loaves, Highlands Food Pantry, and Highlands Emergency Council. Representatives from all three organizations expressed their gratitude for the support from the hospital and the local community.
“Every day, we continue to see people struggling that have never struggled before,” said Fishes and Loaves Executive Director Larry Morris. “It takes the full community to help support us, and I can’t tell you how much that means to us.”
The Highlands Middle School boys basketball team helped transfer the donations on Tuesday, Dec.16.
“We first want to make them good men, and it’s important to us that they give back to our community,” said head coach Emily Bowers. “So this is a way that we can do that.”
While the entry did not win first place in the competition, its design impressed guests and workers during its display, marking a positive close to a year of progress for the hospital.
- Mitch Stone
reporter@highlandsnews.com