NW Farmers Fighting Hunger Food Drive Supports Lean Months at Washington & Oregon Food Banks
OLYMPIA, Wash., June 2, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Northwest Farmers Fighting Hunger (NWFFH) has launched a month long Cash/Food Drive that responds to the 'need for food' during summer months when school breakfast and lunch programs are suspended. Last year more than 700,000 children In Washington and Oregon public schools qualified for free or reduced-price lunches.
Northwest Dairy Farmers are leading the June dairy month cash/food drive in Washington and Oregon with food collection bins at 110 Fred Meyer stores where cash donations can also be made at check out registers. Cash and food donations benefit Feeding America affiliates Food Lifeline in Western Washington, 2nd Harvest in Eastern Washington, and the Oregon Food Bank.
Dairy farmers together with other agriculture organizations show their year round commitment to fight hunger by donating more than 13.5 million pounds of food each year to food banks, including 200 gallons of milk each week in Eastern Washington alone.
Washington State Department of Agriculture Director, Bud Hover, and Oregon Department of Agriculture Director, Katy Coba, are supporting the project by engaging in a friendly competition for a 'Director's Trophy' that will be awarded to the state that contributes the most food during June. Last year, 7,751 pounds of food were raised in Washington while 6,500 pounds were collected in Oregon. The two states work together while also trying to top the other in terms what state brings in the most cash/food donations.
"One in five of our neighbors require some assistance from a food bank," Director Hover said. "I hope that this food drive - and the partnerships among dairy farmers, ranchers, and growers in both states – will bring us together so we can all help feed the hungry among us."
"The need to help hungry families and individuals in Oregon and Washington during the summer months is a critical time for families with kids," said Director Coba. "During the school year, most kids from low income families can receive breakfast and lunch at school that is not available to them during the summer."
"We're excited to partner once again with the Oregon and Washington dairy farmers in their fight to end childhood hunger here in the Northwest," says Melinda Merrill, with Fred Meyer Stores. "Hunger reduction is an extremely important issue to our customers and employees and the Northwest Farmers Fighting Hunger campaign is yet another great way to combat the ongoing problem."
SOURCE Northwest Farmers Fighting Hunger
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