Summer, it seems, is no longer a joyful, glee filled break from school for some children. Instead it may be a time when they are facing weeks of a frightening reality; hunger.
Many concerned area businesses and organizations found ways to alleviate this situation. Most teamed up with Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NC (SH Food Bank of NW NC). This organization supplies almost 400 non-profit food distribution centers in Northwestern NC in an 18 county area.
Feed our Kids Now
WXII 12 viewers, Lowe’s foods and BB&T in the Piedmont Triad area of North Carolina joined forces to ‘Feed Our Kids Now’ during this summer break from school. Those kids who rely on breakfast, lunch and a snack at school may have little or nothing to look forward to at the home dining table.
Area residents “donated funds and food equating more than 400,000 meals” according to Erin Foster, Marketing Manager of SH Food Bank of NW NC.
Baseball
The Winston-Salem Dash and the Greensboro Grasshoppers baseball teams, in conjunction with the Triad Apartment Association, sponsored food drives the second week of July, 2010. Fans were encouraged to “fill the stands with cans”, competing to see which team collects the most. The Grasshoppers also donated $2.00 of the $7.00 admission price to this invaluable non-profit organization.
Monetary Contributions
Monetary contributions are welcome and wise. SH Food Bank of NWNC has agreements with many wholesalers, grocers and local producers and can purchase $12.00 worth of food for $1.00.
On July 12, 2010, WXII 12 television reported an anonymous contribution of $7500.00 before the Dash game. Those unable to get to the stadiums could donate via cell phone by texting the word ‘eat’ to 25383, resulting in a one-time $10.00 contribution to the food bank.
Local grocery stores and media heavily support various promotions to put food on all tables in our area. WFMY News 2 partners with Lowes Foods this month to collect non-perishable goods for Second Harvest. The grocery chain also allows customers to donate rewards points to SH Food Bank of NWNC through the Fresh Rewards program, further discouraging the possibility of hungry children.
Sources:
http://www.hungernwnc.org/index.html accessed 7-12-2010
http://www.mytaa.org/ accessed 7-12-2010
Interview with Erin Foster, Marketing Manager, Second Harvest Food Bank of NW NC
