MLK Day of Service

Media Contact: Karina Rusk
831-759-1843

January 15, 2024, Salinas Valley Health, a co-sponsor of Blue Zones Project Monterey County (BZPMC) commemorated Martin Luther King Jr. Day with a day of service at Natividad Creek Park in Salinas. Dozens of people from several organizations gathered at the park this morning for a beatification effort that included trash clean-up and weeding of the community garden.

The event paid tribute to Dr. King’s legacy by working toward a healthier, happier and more connected community. For the Salinas Valley Health team, participation is more than volunteering, the engagement is part of the organization’s well-defined pillar structure in which the healthcare system sets goals based on six pillars of operation focused on People, Service, Quality, Finance, Growth, and Community.

Giving back to the community is part of the RISE campaign at Salinas Valley Health. RISE is an acronym that stands for Real Impact through Staff Engagement. Volunteering and community impact have long been part of the culture at Salinas Valley Health and the commitment became more formalized during the pandemic when the organization paid staff to participate in community benefit programs and created essential public outreach ranging from COVID education in the agricultural fields to free community vaccination clinics. Clinical and non-clinical departments throughout the organization embrace the RISE campaign and take pride in the real impact they have through community service.

As a 24/7 operation focused on patient care and quality service, not everyone at the Medical Center and clinics could participate in the MLK Day of Service on the national holiday so Salinas Valley Health is also promoting a second BZPMC service event taking place Saturday, January 20 from 10-noon at Oak Woodland Community Garden in Marina.

Salinas Valley Health is dedicated to the health and wellbeing of the community and encourages others to join in these community connection activities and learn more at BZPMC.