SANTA
ROSA, September 2, 2009 -
The Redwood Empire Food Bank (REFB)
is joining a nationwide campaign
to raise hunger awareness and funds
to provide meals for people in need
in Sonoma County.
The campaign is part
of September Hunger Action Month
coordinated by Feeding America,
a network of 200 food banks across
the country.
The "Give A Little,
Feed A Lot" campaign is asking
local communities to contribute
to hunger relief efforts by participating
in a "Share Your Lunch $"
challenge.
"Across the country, the goal
is to raise funds to feed millions
of people," said David Goodman,
Executive Director of the Redwood
Empire Food Bank. "Help feed
the 70,000 people who depend on
us and other hunger relief programs
here in Sonoma County."
"In the world
of hunger relief providing food
for people in need is a day to day,
month to month challenge, "
he said. "Just a $5 donation
- and a friendly challenge to friends
and colleagues to do the same -
will go a long way."
"Five dollars,
the price of a fairly simple lunch,
will enable us to buy and distribute
12 nutritious meals that will go
to a hungry child, a senior, disabled
person or low-income working parent,
" he said. "No amount
of support is too small, and imagine
what a contribution of $500 could
do."
The REFB launched
the September drive in August by
sending appeals to hundreds of food
bank supporters. The package included
a lunch bag and "Share Your
Lunch $" flyer. To download
the flyer and bag label and learn
more about Hunger Action Month visit
www.refb.org.
In return for their
participation, donors will see their
name or company logo on REFB's special
Hunger Action Month page on the
food bank web site, www.refb.org.
For donations of $500
or more, a company logo or name
also will appear in REFB's fall
community "thank you"
ad in The Press Democrat and in
the REFB annual report.
Everyone in the community
is encouraged to "Share Your
Lunch $" and give a little
to feed a lot.
"Most importantly,
donors know they have played a key
part in the community's effort to
provide for increasing numbers of
people who are unable to adequately
feed themselves and their families,"
Goodman said.
The REFB is the largest
food bank serving the North Coast
of California from Petaluma to Oregon.
Working with 146 other hunger relief
agencies that operate 230 programs
throughout the county, the REFB
provides food to 70,000 Sonoma County
residents each month.
That number is 10,000
more a month than a year ago, the
result of the economic recession's
impact on Sonoma County residents.
Recipients of REFB's
programs include 10,400 seniors,
30,000 children, and thousands of
working families, the disabled,
unemployed and the homeless.
The REFB also is a
primary resource for food pantries
and other hunger relief agencies
in Lake, Mendocino, Humboldt and
Del Norte counties.
For more information, contact David
Goodman at 707-523-7900. |
