“We chose Valley Community Healthcare to support because they are the people who take care of all of the underprivileged of the community, and they do tremendous work,” says Lea Newton, Claudine’s co-owner and pastry chef.
Since Los Angeles began a mandatory lockdown order in mid-March, Valley Community Healthcare has had to scramble to continue treating its patients, 85% of whom are low-income. It installed a telehealth system in just a matter of days in order to better provide care remotely. It has also dramatically increased the mental health services it provides in response to the strains created by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“During this extraordinarily difficult time, we have stretched ourselves in ways we would not have imagined just a few months ago in order to respond to the needs of the communities we serve,” says Paula Wilson, Valley Community Healthcare’s President and Chief Executive Officer. We’re grateful that Claudine helped lighten the workload of our employees this week.”
Wilson notes the economic fallout from COVID-19 is likely to cause visits to its three sites to soar in the coming months as many Angelenos lose their job-based health insurance, and that it is preparing for this new reality.
“People in the healthcare industry step up for people in need all the time, and you have to really pay gratitude for how helpful they are,” adds Claudine chef and co-owner Anthony Jacquet.
Valley Community Healthcare is observing its 50th anniversary this year. In addition to its primary site in North Hollywood, it operates a second full-service health center in North Hills adjacent to James Monroe High School and operates the student health center at Los Angeles Valley College. It serves some more than 20,000 residents of the San Fernando Valley, 85% of whom are low-income. More information is available at www.valleycommunityhealthcare.org
