Wal-Mart and ConAgra Foods Step-Up to Answer America's Second Harvest Call to Action to Reduce Shortages at Food Banks Nationwid
December 18 2007 - 3:08PM
PR Newswire (US)
Wal-Mart donates 50 truckloads of food and grocery products to
supply 3 million meals CHICAGO, Dec. 18 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --
In response to the food shortage at food banks across the country,
America's Second Harvest -- The Nation's Food Bank Network -- today
announced that Wal-Mart and ConAgra Foods are making significant
donations to ensure no Americans go hungry this holiday season.
Earlier today, Wal-Mart announced a donation of 50 truckloads of
food and grocery products that will be dispatched to food banks in
every state, helping to provide 3 million meals this holiday
season. The donation is supported by a $1 million contribution to
America's Second Harvest. ConAgra Foods, in response to Wal-Mart's
pledge, is joining Wal-Mart by contributing 35 truckloads of its
products, valued at $1 million. To further encourage all Americans
to donate, ConAgra Foods is issuing the ConAgra Foods Challenge and
will match individual gifts, up to $200,000, made to America's
Second Harvest through the end of the year. "As food banks coast to
coast face a potential crisis, Wal-Mart and ConAgra Foods are
leading the way to feed Americans in need," said Vicki Escarra,
president and CEO of America's Second Harvest. "Not only will their
contributions make a measurable difference to the increased number
of individuals seeking emergency food assistance this holiday
season, but we hope that other corporations, organizations and
individuals will be inspired to dig a little deeper this year so
that no one goes hungry." America's Second Harvest, the nation's
largest domestic hunger relief organization, has projected an
immediate food shortage of 11.7 million meals. Across the country,
the Second Harvest Network is responding to an unprecedented need
for support from families struggling to make ends meet. The ailing
economy and rising food and fuel prices are taking their toll, and
families are facing tough choices, such as whether to pay to heat
their homes or buy groceries. At the same time, inventories are at
devastatingly low levels at Second Harvest's nationwide network of
more than 200 food banks. The thousands of food service agencies
they support are struggling to feed those arriving at their doors.
"The hunger crisis our nation's food banks are currently facing is
something that all of us at Wal-Mart care about and are taking very
seriously," said Margaret McKenna, president of the Wal-Mart
Foundation. "We are pleased to be in a position to respond to the
call to action from America's Second Harvest, and hope that this
donation will help them to feed those who are hungry this holiday
season." "Nothing is more heartbreaking than someone visiting a
food bank to find empty shelves -- especially during the holidays,"
said Christopher Kircher, president, ConAgra Foods Foundation. "As
a long-standing partner of America's Second Harvest, we wanted to
do our part to make sure that no one goes hungry this holiday
season. We hope our matching grants will inspire people to make a
donation to America's Second Harvest knowing that we'll match their
contribution. Together, we can all make a difference." Thanks to
Wal-Mart's contribution, America's Second Harvest will receive
truckloads of staples such as macaroni and cheese, oatmeal, peanut
butter and jelly, spaghetti pasta and sauce, as well as corn, beans
and potatoes. ConAgra Foods' donation includes hearty, nutritious
foods, such as Marie Callender's meals, pot pies and soups; Healthy
Choice meals; Hunt's tomatoes; and a variety of snacks, such as
Orville Redenbacher's and Act II popcorn, pastries, granola bars
and cereal. The partnership between Wal-Mart and America's Second
Harvest began in 2005 when the two organizations worked together to
support hurricane relief efforts. Since that time, the company and
its customers have contributed approximately $15 million which has
been distributed to food banks across America to help feed
individuals at risk of hunger. In addition, Wal-Mart works
exclusively with America's Second Harvest on its food reclamation
program, which last year provided 14 million pounds of dry grocery
items valued at $21 million to food banks and related organizations
across the U.S. The mission of the ConAgra Foods Foundation is to
ensure every child in America has access to the foods they need to
sustain a nutritious diet and balanced lifestyle, and the chance to
succeed in school and life. It's about nourishing kids today so
that they can flourish tomorrow. Since 1999, ConAgra Foods has
committed more than $20 million and 145 million pounds of donated
product to America's Second Harvest to help end child hunger. The
ConAgra Foods foundation has funded the startup of more than 250
new Kids Cafes, supported technology and transportation programs
for the America's Second Harvest Network of food banks (including
the purchase of 167 trucks for food banks) and sponsored the Ad
Council child hunger campaign. Personal donations to America's
Second Harvest can be made online at http://www.secondharvest.org/.
About America's Second Harvest -- The Nation's Food Bank Network
America's Second Harvest -- The Nation's Food Bank Network -- is
the largest charitable domestic hunger-relief organization in the
United States. Through its network of more than 200 member food
banks, America's Second Harvest annually provides assistance to
more than 25 million people in need, including more than 9 million
children and nearly 3 million seniors, in all 50 states, the
District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Each year, America's Second
Harvest secures and distributes more than 2 billion pounds of food
and grocery products to support feeding programs at approximately
50,000 local charitable agencies, including food pantries, soup
kitchens, emergency shelters, after-school programs, and Kids
Cafes. To learn more, please visit http://www.secondharvest.org/
About ConAgra Foods, Inc. (NYSE:CAG) ConAgra Foods, Inc.,
(NYSE:CAG) is one of North America's leading packaged food
companies, serving consumer grocery retailers, as well as
restaurants and other foodservice establishments. Popular ConAgra
Foods consumer brands include: Banquet, Chef Boyardee, Egg Beaters,
Healthy Choice, Hebrew National, Hunt's, Marie Callender's, Orville
Redenbacher's, PAM and many others. For more information, please
visit us at http://www.conagrafoods.com/. DATASOURCE: America's
Second Harvest CONTACT: Ross Fraser of America's Second Harvest,
+1-312-641-6422, ; Shannon Frederick of WalMart, +1-800-331-0085;
or Lisa Claybon, +1-312-751-3516, , for ConAgra Foods Web Site:
http://www.conagrafoods.com/ http://www.secondharvest.org/
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