America's Second Harvest - The Nation's Food Bank Network Recognizes National Food Bank Week
CHICAGO – October 16, 2006 – This week marks National Food Bank Week recognizing food banks across the country for addressing the issue of hunger in America. Every year, America’s Second Harvest Network Member food banks provide food assistance to more than 25 million low-income hungry people in the United States, including more than 9 million children and nearly 3 million seniors.
National Food Bank Week is recognized in honor of World Food Day, which takes place on Oct. 16. World Food Day is a worldwide event designed to increase awareness and understanding of hunger and to encourage year-around action to alleviate it. It is observed on Oct. 16 in recognition of the founding of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in 1945. In the United States, the endeavor is sponsored by 450 national, private voluntary organizations.
World Food Day activities are carried out at local, national, regional and international levels. Since 1983, an annual theme has been chosen in order to provide unity for World Food Day activities. The theme for 2006 activities is Investing in Agriculture For Food Security.
World Food Day planning is done at the community level. Individual groups can hold a special event, but the most successful observances happen when organizers work together with Network Members or local chapters of national sponsors. Local coalitions, representing the diversity of national sponsors, can share ideas that will involve schools, businesses, worship centers, government offices, service groups and the media.
Food banks provide a vital service to communities across the country. The concept of food banking is just a quarter-century old. It began in 1976 when John van Hengel learned that grocery stores dumped food that was either nearing expiration or cast-off due to small tears or dents in the packaging. He persuaded store managers to donate this food to a central location where social service agencies could shop for the food they needed to serve their clients at no cost, and the concept of a food bank was born.
“National Food Bank Week is a time to give back to your community by donating time or money to your local food bank,” said Vicki Escarra, president and CEO of America’s Second Harvest. “We encourage everyone to take part in National Food Bank Week activities in honor of World Food Day and hungry Americans across the country.”
In just over twenty-five years, the America’s Second Harvest Network has grown from one man and a single food bank to the nation's largest charitable hunger-relief organization in the country with a Network of more than 200 regional Member food banks and food - rescue programs serving all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. The America's Second Harvest Network secures and distributes more than two billion pounds of donated food and grocery products annually. The America’s Second Harvest Network supports approximately 50,000 local charitable agencies operating more than 94,000 programs including food pantries, soup kitchens, emergency shelters, after-school programs, and Kids Cafes.
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America's Second Harvest - The Nation's Food Bank Network is the largest charitable domestic hunger-relief organization in the country with a Network of more than 200 Member food banks and food-rescue organizations serving all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. The America's Second Harvest Network secures and distributes more than 2 billion pounds of donated food and grocery products annually; and supports approximately 50,000 local charitable agencies operating more than 94,000 programs including food pantries, soup kitchens, emergency shelters, after-school programs and Kids Cafes. Last year, the America's Second Harvest Network provided food assistance to more than 25 million low-income hungry people in the United States, including 9 million children and nearly 3 million seniors. For more on the America's Second Harvest Network, please visit www.secondharvest.org.
Contact:
Ross Fraser
Cell:
312.307.8470
Office: 312.641.6422
