First Choice Power Kicks Off Hunger Awareness Month by Announcing Food First™ Program Aimed at Providing 1 Million Meals for Texans

IRVING, Texas, Sept. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- First Choice Power today kicked off Hunger Awareness Month with the announcement of the Food First™ program, an initiative to provide 1 million meals to Texans in need, and its first monthly food bank grant recipient.  East Texas Food Bank will receive a $1,000 grant, a donation that will provide 8,000 meals to those in need in the East Texas area. The grant was awarded as a result of the food bank winning an ongoing monthly poll on First Choice Power's Facebook page, www.facebook.com/FirstChoicePower.

"Texas ranks as the third state in most need when it comes to hunger," said Brian Hayduk, president, First Choice Power. "We believe that no one should go hungry and are making hunger our No. 1 cause. Through our Food First program we have created multiple ways to help alleviate this issue, and we hope our fellow Texans will join us."

Food First aims to make a difference for the approximately 1.3 million families in Texas that do not have enough food and includes specific programs focused on feeding children. Texas leads the nation when it comes to hungry children with more than 22 percent unsure how they will get their next meal.

The Food First program launched in June, 2010 with an innovative summer food bag program for children. So far, it has provided more than 40,000 meals.

"Before First Choice Power's summer bag program, an effort to feed kids on summer weekends did not exist, and we saw hungry kids lined up every Monday, anxious to receive their meal," said Lee Pipkin, interim executive director, West Texas Food Bank. "With the Food First program, children can get the nourishment they needed to have fun and truly enjoy their summer."

Food First™

First Choice Power supports its goal of 1 million meals through the following initiatives:

• Facebook Food Bank Poll: People can vote for one of First Choice Power's partner food banks or the food bank of their choice on First Choice Power's Facebook page. Each month for the remainder of 2010, the winning food bank will receive a $1,000 grant.
• Summer Bag Program: First Choice Power partnered with The West Texas Food Bank in Odessa, East Texas Food Bank in Tyler and the Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley in McAllen, along with community partners such as Boys & Girls Clubs and Casa de Amigos, to distribute Food First biodegradable bags full of nutritious foods to children every Friday during summer 2010.
• Employee Volunteer Projects: First Choice Power employees work with Meals on Wheels, The Stewpot and the Christian Community Action Food Pantry.
• Community Awareness: The company also will participate in community events at which First Choice Power will host canned food drives, donation drives and raise hunger awareness in Texas.  Learn about upcoming events, www.firstchoicepower.com/community.

Help Fight Hunger

In addition to providing donations through the Facebook poll, First Choice Power will donate a meal to its food bank partners for every person who "likes" its Facebook page or follows @FirstChoicePwr on Twitter.

About First Choice Power

First Choice Power is an energy company committed to identifying what is most important to our customers and putting their needs first. Texas business and residential customers in deregulated markets can depend on First Choice Power for competitive pricing and excellent customer service. First Choice Power is committed to giving back to the communities it serves through its Food First ™ hunger initiative, Reduce Your Use Grants™, Classroom Energy Innovation Grants™, recycling efforts and supporting employees' community engagement. Learn more at www.FirstChoicePower.com. Keep up to date on the latest energy news and join the conversation by following us on Twitter, Facebook or The Current blog.

PUCT REP Certification No. 10008 | First Choice Power Special Purpose, L.P.

SOURCE First Choice Power

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