Rotary Packs 58,000 Pounds of Groceries for Orange County Food Bank

Celebrates 100th Anniversary with Volunteer Effort to Help America's Second Harvest Network Member

ORANGE, CA. --- February 21, 2005 --- The Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County, a member of America's Second Harvest – The Nation's Food Bank Network, will be visited by more than 520 international Rotary members from more than 50 countries on Wednesday, February 23. Members will spend the day readying more than 58,000 pounds of food for distribution to area families at risk for hunger.

The Rotary members are currently meeting in Anaheim for their annual International Assembly.
February 23 marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of Rotary in Chicago by attorney Paul H. Harris.

"We greatly appreciate this volunteer effort by Rotary," said Robert Forney, President and CEO of America's Second Harvest – The Nation's Food Bank Network. "Rotary clubs throughout the country have undertaken many projects over the years that have made significant contributions to our food banks."  Additionally, in 2005 the America's Second Harvest Network is celebrating its 25th year of feeding America's hungry.

The International Assembly, Rotary International's annual training meeting, is taking place in Anaheim, California, from February 18-25, 2005.

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Rotary International now has more than 1.2 million members in nearly 32,000 clubs in 166 countries. Rotary members are men and women who are business and professional leaders in their communities and committed to volunteer service. Rotary is non-political, non-religions and open to people of all races, religions and ethnic backgrounds.

America's Second Harvest—The Nation’s Food Bank Network is the nation's largest domestic hunger-relief organization with a Network of more than 200 regional Member food banks and food-rescue programs serving all 50 states and Puerto Rico. The Network secures and distributes nearly two billion pounds of donated food and grocery products annually. The America's Second Harvest Network supports approximately 50,000 feeding agencies nationwide, including food pantries, soup kitchens, women’s shelters, and Kids Cafes. These local organizations provide emergency food assistance to 23 million hungry Americans, including more than nine million children and nearly three million seniors each year.  For more information on America's Second Harvest, visit www.secondharvest.org.

Contact:
Ross Fraser
Media Relations Manager
312-263-2303, x127
Cell: (312) 307-8470