Vertically Integrated Partnership Donates Over 60,000 lbs of Potatoes to Food Lifeline for 3rd Annual Problem Solvers Food Drive

VIP partners Sodexo, Hirai Farms, Annie's Fun, McCain Foods and Larson Allen team up to help those in need during the holiday season

SEATTLE, Nov. 23, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On November 19th, Vertically Integrated Partnership (VIP) partners Sodexo, Hirai Farms, Annie's Fun, McCain Foods and Larson Allen teamed up to donate 60,000 pounds of potatoes for Thanksgiving meals to Food Lifeline, Washington's largest hunger relief organization, as part of KOMO's 3rd Annual Problem Solvers Food Drive (http://shoreline.komonews.com/content/60000-pounds-potatoes-donated-food-lifeline).

The VIP is a coalition of farmers, food processors, food distributors, food service companies and other companies that are working together to help stop hunger in the Pacific Northwest. Since 2008, the Vertically Integrated Partnership (i.e., Sodexo, Hirai Farms, Annie's Fun, McCain Foods, National Frozen Foods, etc.) has donated over 3 million pounds of food (i.e., potatoes, sweet corn, onions, beans, canned foods, etc.) to many food banks in the Pacific Northwest, including Food Lifeline, Northwest Harvest, Second Harvest, White Center Food Bank, Bellingham Food Bank, Quincy Community Food Bank, Wenatchee Food Bank, etc. The Vertically Integrated Partnership (VIP) has a goal of donating another 2 million pounds of food in the next 12 to 16 months.

"We are very grateful to Sodexo, Hirai Farms, Annie's Fun, Larson Allen and McCain Foods for this generous donation that will be a part of thousands of Thanksgiving meals for families in need," said Linda Nageotte, President & CEO of Food Lifeline. "During difficult economic times, when people are forced to stretch their dollars further, healthy produce is often the first item crossed off grocery lists because of its higher cost. We are so grateful to have the opportunity to work with the Vertically Integrated Partnership to ensure the hungry get the food they need to feed themselves and their families."

For more information, please contact Linda Nageotte at 206-545-6600 or [email protected].

About Food Lifeline

Food Lifeline (http://www.foodlifeline.org) is a local hunger relief organization, efficiently serving the Western Washington area by using 96% of its revenue to directly feed hungry people. Last year the organization delivered more than 24 million meals to hungry people through its network of nearly 300 local food banks, hot meal programs and shelters. Food Lifeline is also a member of the national organization Feeding America.

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SOURCE Food Lifeline