Contact: Marlo DelSordo

                                                                                                                                          215-339-0900 x 330

                                                                                                                                       mdelsordo@philabundance.org

January 10, 2008

Delaware Valley Food Drives Bring in Half a Million Pounds of Food During the Holidays

The Fight Against Hunger Intensifies as the Numbers of those in Need Continues to Rise

PHILADELPHIA, PA -- Jan. 10, 2007 -- From Nov. 7 through Dec. 31, 2007, the Delaware Valley community generously donated more than half a million pounds of food in response to a call for help from Philabundance to offset a food shortage in the face of growing need experienced by Philabundance and food banks across the country.

The generosity of the entire Delaware Valley community came through during the holiday season, when 643,392 pounds of food was donated to Philabundance, the region’s largest hunger relief organization. Philadelphia County contributed the highest amount of food donations with 101,065 pounds, followed by Montgomery County with 34,225, and then Bucks County with 13,410 pounds. Philabundance works with its network of more than 600 agencies in 10 counties in Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey to ensure that about 65,000 people a week receive food.

On Nov. 7, 2007, Philabundance put out the call for help to secure more food because its warehouse was only at 40 percent capacity. By the end of December that percentage nearly doubled rising to 77 percent, all due to the overwhelming community response. Philabundance’s warehouse capacity should be at 90 percent, there is still a need for food and monetary donations to help increase the food supply needed to serve the mounting needs of the community.

WMMR’s Camp Out for Hunger significantly improved Philabundance’s food supply. Camp Out for Hunger, an annual five-day food drive held from Dec. 3 to 7, 2007, spearheaded by Preston Elliott and Steve Morrison brought in 464,770 pounds of food.

Agencies within the Philabundance network reported receiving more essential food items on the most needed non-perishable items as a result of the holiday food drives. This list is available http://www.philabundance.org/takeactionnow/tan_fooddrive.asp, and includes tuna fish, peanut butter and macaroni and cheese among other items.

“We have been inspired by the generosity and compassion of our Delaware Valley neighbors who rallied to help those in need this holiday season,” says Bill Clark, president and executive director of Philabundance. “As we face the challenge of feeding a growing number of people across our region, we’re deeply encouraged by the community’s efforts to help ensure that nobody goes hungry. As the need for food continues to grow, we continue to seek donations to feed people 365 days a year.”

Philabundance continues to rely on the generous support of all segments of the Delaware Valley community—individuals, corporations, foundations, as well as community groups—to help feed our hungry Delaware Valley neighbors. To find out about food donations of essential items, or organizing a food/fund drive, contact Philabundance at 215-339-0900 or visit the website at www.philabundance.org.

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Philabundance is the region’s largest food bank and hunger relief organization. Working with more than 600 neighborhood organizations in both Southeastern Pennsylvania and South Jersey, Philabundance fights hunger and malnutrition principally by collecting and distributing food to people in need. For more information about Philabundance, call 215-339-0900 or visit www.philabundance.org.