Cox Communications Launches the Cox Cares 100,000 Meal Challenge to Benefit the Orange County Rescue Mission

Donors can text, click or drop-off donations

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Sep 13, 2010, 01:08 ET

TUSTIN, Calif. and RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA, Calif., Sept. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Cox Communications is proud to launch the Cox Cares 100,000 Meal Challenge, in an effort to help alleviate hunger among at-risk residents in Orange County. This campaign will benefit the Orange County Rescue Mission, and features donation options that range from texting and clicking to traditional donation drop-off locations. The campaign runs today through November 30.

"Every night in Orange County, more than 21,000 men, women and children go to bed without a roof over their heads. More than 13 percent of the children in Orange County are living at or under national poverty levels. We are doing everything in our power to reach them and provide a hot meal and shelter, but we cannot do it alone," explained Jim Palmer, president of the Orange County Rescue Mission. "We are very grateful that Cox Communications has chosen to assist us in our mission and we sincerely hope the Orange County residents get involved in this worthwhile effort."

"We can provide a hot meal to a hungry child for just $1.48. By donating $35 dollars to the Cox Cares 100,000 Meal Challenge, the Orange County Rescue Mission can provide 24 meals to sustain a struggling family," Palmer added.

According to the 2008 Orange County Nutrition Profile, 31 percent of low-income households in Orange County (190,000 households) experience hunger at least once a day and nearly 38 percent of those experiencing hunger are children. With the economy's impact on the residents of Orange County, the number of people going hungry is likely to be even higher today. Therefore Cox Communications, the third-largest cable entertainment and broadband services provider in the country, has created the Cox Cares 100,000 Meal Challenge to benefit The Orange County Rescue Mission.

The goal is to gather enough food and monetary donations to provide 100,000 meals for the needy in Orange County.

Cox Communications is sponsoring the program with educational segments on the Cox 3, cable television advertisements, email campaigns to Cox Communications customers and Orange County Rescue Mission's supporters, and information on the program on the websites for both organizations.

"With the community's help, we are confident that we can reach this goal to provide 100,000 meals through The Orange County Rescue Mission," said Jim Leach, vice president of public affairs for Cox in Orange Coast. "Cox Communications understands the key role organizations like the Orange County Rescue Mission play in our community. As an Orange County business, anything we can do to help is not only our pleasure, but our duty."

To donate food or funds to the Cox Cares 100,000 Meal Challenge:

Text CoxCares to #20222. Each text will donate $10 to the cause. Standard text messaging rates apply. Each $10 donation will be included on the donor's phone bill.
Click and donate online. Visit the Cox Cares website at www.Cox-Cares.org.
Visit any of our drop-off locations. Donate food and basic care items such as toothbrushes, shampoo and diapers at various drop-off locations throughout Orange County:
1. The Orange County Rescue Mission's Village of Hope's warehouse in Tustin, Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
2. Cox Communication's solution stores, Monday through Saturday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. To find the nearest locations visit www.Cox-Cares.org.
3. OC Restaurant Association is a co-sponsor. Visit www.Cox-Cares.org for the list of participating restaurants accepting donations.

Radio City Christmas Spectacular will also join the OC Restaurant Association as a co-sponsor of the Cox Cares 100,000 Meal Challenge.

About Cox Communications

Cox Communications is a multi-service, broadband communications and entertainment company serving more than 6.2 million residential and commercial customers. Locally, Cox Communications provides digital video, high-speed Internet and telephone services, along with dedicated community programming on Cox3 and Cox8, serving the Orange County communities of: Aliso Viejo, Dana Point, Irvine, Ladera Ranch, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Lake Forest, Mission Viejo, Newport Beach, Rancho Santa Margarita, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, Tustin, select unincorporated areas of Orange County, as well as Palos Verdes, Rancho Palos Verdes, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates, Santa Barbara and portions of San Pedro. Additionally, Cox Business and Cox Media serve the high speed communications and local as well as national advertising needs of commercial customers. More information about the services of Cox Communications, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cox Enterprises, is available at www.cox.com, www.coxbusiness.com, and www.coxmedia.com.

About the Orange County Rescue Mission

The Orange County Rescue Mission is a non-profit organization that uses Biblical principles in its programs such as relationships, finance, and parenting. The Orange County Rescue Mission's innovative facilities and programs provide food assistance and shelter in addition to counseling, education, job training, mental wellness, life skill training, and medical services to provide a solid foundation for the transition to a self-sufficient life. To make a donation or inquire about volunteer opportunities with the Orange County Rescue Mission, please contact the Village of Hope at (714) 247-4300 or log on to www.rescuemission.org.

SOURCE Cox Communications