Feeding America Launches Fleet of Mobile Food Pantries

Idol Gives Back Foundation Funds 10 Trucks to Distribute An Estimated Eight Million Pounds of Food Annually

CHICAGO, Nov. 17, 2011  /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Feeding America, the nation's largest hunger relief organization, is launching a fleet of mobile pantries and expanding upon other hunger relief programs, thanks to a $5 million donation from the Idol Gives Back Foundation.

Ten mobile pantry trucks are being delivered to service food banks across the country. They will supply nutritious food to people at risk of hunger who live in communities where fresh food is limited, providing access to nutritious food in both urban and rural "food deserts." These trucks are expected to distribute more than eight million pounds of food annually.

"We are thrilled to have this fleet up and running, thanks to funding support from Idol Gives Back," said Vicki Escarra, president and CEO of Feeding America. "Their $5 million donation is helping us to provide much-needed food to the 37 million people served annually by our network of food banks."

"The Idol Gives Back Foundation is a proud supporter of Feeding America and The Campaign for a Hunger-Free America," said Mike Darnell, President of Alternative Entertainment, Fox Broadcasting Company, and Secretary, Board of Directors, Idol Gives Back Foundation. "Through the Feeding America network, the Idol Gives Back Foundation is able to use the power of AMERICAN IDOL and the entertainment industry to truly affect change and bring hope to the poorest and most vulnerable among us."

The mobile pantries will impact food banks located in areas of significant need.  These include the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank in Los Angeles, CA; Roadrunner Food Bank in Albuquerque, NM; Forgotten Harvest in Oak Park, MI; Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest Pennsylvania in Erie, PA; Harvest Hope Food Bank in Columbia, SC; Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Tennessee in Gray, TN; Food Bank of West Central Texas in Abilene, TX; San Francisco Food Bank in San Francisco, CA; East Texas Food Bank in Tyler, TX; and Bread for the Mighty Food Bank in Gainesville, FL.

The Idol Gives Back Foundation also provided funding to 10 food banks to hire a new staff members dedicated to local food sourcing efforts. These individuals will be charged with identifying new sources of donated food and increasing donations from local and regional food manufacturers.

Based on information compiled by Bridge Strategy Group, Feeding America estimates there is the potential to collect up to 400 million pounds nationwide from this segment of the industry, with 275 million of those pounds deemed nutritious.  

This grant also generously supported Feeding America's National Produce Program, which collects and distributes more than 130 million pounds of fresh produce throughout the Feeding America network. This program taps into the more than six billion pounds of fresh produce that research estimates is wasted or destroyed each year.

Idol Gives Back Foundation

The Idol Gives Back Foundation (IGBF) is a not-for-profit U.S. based 501(c)(3) organization which raises money and awareness to serve children and their families in need throughout the U.S. and the rest of the world.

Feeding America

Feeding America provides low-income individuals and families with the fuel to survive and even thrive. As the nation's leading domestic hunger-relief charity, our network members supply food to more than 37 million Americans each year, including 14 million children and 3 million seniors. Serving the entire United States, more than 200 member food banks support 61,000 agencies that address hunger in all of its forms. For more information on how you can fight hunger in your community and across the country, visit http://www.feedingamerica.org. Find us on Facebook at facebook.com/FeedingAmerica or follow our news on Twitter at twitter.com/FeedingAmerica.

Contact:
Ross Fraser
312-641-6422

SOURCE Feeding America