WHAT’S NEWS IN WOODLAND HILLS
COUNTY HEALTH
DEPARTMENT
INFLUENZA VACCINE
CLINIC
ONE-OF-A-KIND CAR
DONATION PROGRAM
Community Auto, a nonprofit program
of The Lighthouse Foundation, accepts
donated cars, repairs and inspects them
when feasible, and sells them at discounted
prices to low-income working families and
individuals.
The used car in your garage that you
don’t have time to sell, or didn’t get the
trade-in value you wanted, or a car the
kids used but no longer need would be
the perfect car to donate. Your generous
donation is tax-deductible.
Please contact Community Auto
at communityautolico.org or call
724.538.5081 for details on how to donate
your car.
FOOD BANK CHANGES
BUSINESS MODEL
TO BETTER MEET
THE NEEDS OF THE
COMMUNITY
The Greater Pittsburgh Community
Food Bank estimates that in five years,
nearly 50 percent of its inventory will
be fresh produce, moving from more
than eight million pounds distributed
last year to 24 million pounds in 2022.
Understanding that the cost of fresh
produce is too expensive for many of the
families and individuals served by the
Food Bank, there are new agency shared
maintenance fees designed to eliminate the
cost of produce (effective Sept. 1).
The decision to change the agency
shared maintenance fees is smart for the
organization and for the more than 110,000
individuals and families it serves monthly.
More than 74 percent of the people served
want fresh foods as part of their diet but
purchase inexpensive, unhealthy foods
because they cannot afford healthier
options. It is important to the Food Bank’s
mission to promote healthy, fresh produce
options and ensure that people have access
to the right foods.
“By changing our agency shared
maintenance fee structure, we are able
to take advantage of the largest source of
food waste in our country – the six billion
6
724.942.0940 TO ADVERTISE
❘
pounds of produce that never make it
out of the fields,” said Justin Lee, GPCFB
Chief Operating Officer. “The new fees
are designed to eliminate the cost of
produce. Although some, not all, of the
fresh produce is donated, it costs time
and money to source, transport, store and
deliver it. We do our best to keep these
costs to a minimum and absorb them
ourselves. Occasionally we have to ask our
agencies and partners to help with some of
those costs.”
The Food Bank network of more than
400 agencies that serve as emergency or
regular food distribution centers, after-
school program sites and on-site feeding
programs will see their fees fluctuate
between a five percent decrease and a
10 percent increase.
THE PITTSBURGH
CONCERT CHORALE
2018-2019 SEASON
The Pittsburgh Concert Chorale’s 2018-
2019 concert schedule includes a variety of
musical styles sure to appeal to every taste.
The concert schedule began with
“Pittsburgh Sings: The Seventh Annual
Pittsburgh Concert Chorale Festival of
Choirs” and continues with the annual
holiday concert “Sounds of the Season,”
“Messiah Sing”—a sing-along free to
the public, and “Brothers from Another
Mother—Those Musical Masons!” The
season will wrap up with “‘Name’ That
Tune!”
Individual concert tickets are available
for purchase in advance or at the door.
All tickets, including group sales and
subscriptions, may be ordered online at
PCCSing.org or by calling 412.635.7654.
icmags.com
The Allegheny County Health
Department is offering flu immunizations
at its walk-in clinic (425 First Avenue,
Pittsburgh, PA 15219). Residents should
enter the building via Cherry Way and
proceed to the fourth floor. The clinic is
open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., except
on Wednesdays when the hours are
1-8 p.m.; no appointment is necessary.
Influenza is a highly contagious upper
respiratory infection that can cause mild
to severe illness and can potentially be
fatal. The CDC recommends an annual flu
vaccine for everyone 6 months of age and
older.
“Flu season is upon us and the first step
to fighting the flu is to get vaccinated,” said
Dr. Karen Hacker, Health Department
Director. “We encourage all residents to
check with their health care provider as
soon as possible to determine which is the
best vaccine type for them. Getting your flu
shot not only protects you and your loved
ones, it protects those susceptible to getting
the flu, such as the elderly and newborns.”
The price of a regular flu shot for
residents with insurance is approximately
$27. The health department also offers the
high-dose influenza vaccine. This vaccine
is four times more concentrated than the
regular flu shot and is available only for
seniors 65 years of age and older. The high-
dose flu shot price is $57.
The flu vaccine is often a covered benefit,
and you can receive the flu shot for free
at many locations around the county;
however, the health department reminds
residents to make sure to check with their
insurance provider prior to getting the flu
shot.
A limited supply of flu vaccine may be
available, at no cost, to uninsured and
underinsured residents of Allegheny
County. Updates will be made to the
ACHD website and posted on the
department’s Facebook page.
For more information about influenza
and for clinic information, visit
bit.ly/2xBnUK2. n