NW Farmers Cash/Food Drive Delivers Donations equal to 90,000+ lbs. of Food
SEATTLE, July 24, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Food banks in Washington and Oregon received 91,675 lbs. pounds of donated food (including $16,250 cash donations equivalent to 65,000 lbs.*) from the 2nd Annual NW Farmers Fighting Hunger Cash/Food Drive during June dairy month.
This year the two states generated a total of 91,675 pounds of food (food+cash equivalent), compared to last year's combined total of 58,052 lbs. of food (food+cash equivalent) – an increase of 33,623 lbs.
The cash/food drive is a nine-way partnership between: Oregon Dairy Products Commission, Washington Dairy Products Commission, Oregon Department of Agriculture, Washington State Department of Agriculture, Oregon Food Bank Network, Food Lifeline, Second Harvest, and Fred Meyer.
Collection barrels were located at 110 Fred Meyer stores, with cash donations accepted at Fred Meyer checkout registers. Although the cash/food drive has concluded, the need for donations has not. The NW Farmers Fighting Hunger website will continue to accept cash donations dedicated to one of the three food banks.
"Partnering with Washington and Oregon dairy farmers in a combined effort to fight childhood hunger means a lot to our entire employee team," said Melinda Merrill, with Fred Meyer Stores. "The partnership draws attention to the need for food during the summer months when school breakfast and lunch programs are suspended."
Washington State Department of Agriculture Director, Bud Hover, and Oregon Department of Agriculture Director, Katy Coba, supported the project again this year by engaging in a friendly competition. A 'Director's Trophy' is awarded each year to the state that contributes the most food/cash equivalent.
Oregon will take this year's trophy with cash donations of $8,664, equivalent to 34,656 pounds, plus 9,305 pounds of donated food for a total of 43,945 pounds. Washington's cash contribution was $5,086, equivalent to 20,344 pounds of food, plus 17,370 pounds of donated food for a total of 37,714 pounds. This year the two states generated a total of 91,675 pounds of food, 33,623 pounds more than last year's combined $10,963 cash/ 43,852 food equivalent, plus 14,200 pounds of donated food for a total of 58,052 pounds.
*$10 cash donation = 40 lbs. of donated food
For information contact:
Pete DeLaunay
(206) 682-3699
SOURCE Northwest Farmers Fighting Hunger
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