Feeding America Launches Hunger-Free Families Campaign

This Thanksgiving TELL 10 about Family Hunger in America

CHICAGO, Nov. 8, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- There are many ways to do a good deed and to keep it alive.  You can pay it forward, return a kindness or TELL 10.  Feeding America's Hunger-Free Families campaign seeks to inspire families during the holiday season to reach out and TELL 10 others about families who are living at risk of hunger in their own communities.  

Hunger is a daily reality for many Americans -- it is not limited to urban areas, rural areas, or any given region of the country.  There are 17 million families who don't always know where they will find their next meal. More than one-third of the households interviewed for the Feeding America Hunger in America 2010 study said that they are sometimes completely without food.

"We joined the campaign because we saw that so many families are going hungry, in this day and time, here in America," said Laila Ali Conway.  Ali Conway and her husband Curtis Conway spent a day at a Foothill Unity Center food pantry, a member agency of the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. They worked with volunteers, met clients and learned about the struggles facing people living at risk of hunger.  "They have kids just like we do and they have to worry about putting food on the table," continued Ali Conway.

As the holiday season approaches, the goal of the Hunger-Free Families campaign is to not only have people TELL 10 about hunger in America, but to also inspire them to donate or volunteer at their local food bank.  These efforts will help provide many meals to families at risk of hunger.

"Somewhere in your own community is a parent who willingly sacrifices a meal so that his or her child can have a decent dinner," said Vicki Escarra, president and CEO of Feeding America, the nation's largest domestic hunger-relief organization.  "We need to bring attention to this crisis and by telling 10 you are helping the fight to end hunger."

TELL 10 about family hunger by visiting www.HungerFreeFamilies.org. and sending 10 of your friends and families the TELL 10 eCard.  This simple gesture can help provide families in need a reason to be thankful this Thanksgiving.

Honeysuckle White® and Shady Brook Farms® turkeys as well as Hamburger Helper are getting behind Hunger-Free Families with special programs.

• In their second year supporting Feeding America, Honeysuckle White and Shady Brook Farms turkey brands are partnering to help provide meals for a million people this holiday season through the "The One Turkey That Can Feed A Million People™" cause-related marketing campaign.  When you purchase any Honeysuckle White® and Shady Brook Farms ® turkey product, you are supporting their company's contribution of $250,000 to help families and individuals facing hunger throughout America.  For more information visit www.honeysucklewhite.com and www.shadybrookfarms.com.
• The Show Your Helping Hand™ campaign is a group effort between Hamburger Helper®, Feeding America and Tim McGraw. The goal is to help Feeding America deliver millions of meals to local food banks. You can get involved by submitting codes on specially marked boxes of Hamburger Helper® at www.showyourhelpinghand.com, or by donating directly to Feeding America at that web site.
• TLC is the Official Media Sponsor of Hunger-Free Families.  The cable network will promote the program and Feeding America through public service announcements with popular on-air talent and other programming initiatives throughout the month.
• Media Partners for Hunger-Free Families include Time Magazine, Guideposts. Both will run special Hunger-Free Families advertorials.

About 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:  Molly Hart, 312-641-5400, [email protected]

SOURCE Feeding America