New AARP Foundation Online Tool Helps Fight Hunger in Los Angeles and Orange Counties

Local organizations receive 100 percent of donations to "Around the Corner Hunger"

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 16, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- AARP Foundation today announced "Around the Corner Hunger," a new online tool to help provide food to older Americans facing the threat of hunger around Los Angeles and Orange counties.  Available at www.aroundthecornerhunger.org, Around the Corner Hunger is an effort to raise funds at the local level for community food banks and hunger relief organizations.

Recent research from AARP Foundation found one in 11 older Americans is at risk of hunger, including 8% of older Californians.  In Los Angeles and Orange counties, the program will steer donations to the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, Meals on Wheels of West Los Angeles, Meals on Wheels of Santa Monica, Meals on Wheels of Huntington Park and Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County.  

"For more than 50 years, AARP has been focused on helping older Americans age with dignity and comfort," said David Pacheco, state president of AARP California.  "Combining our efforts with the purchasing power of local hunger relief organizations, AARP Foundation is driving donations to where they can have the biggest impact for struggling older Americans."

Visitors to Around the Corner Hunger can see facts and stories about hunger here in Los Angeles and donate by credit card to AARP Foundation.  The Foundation will distribute 100 percent of the donations to local hunger relief organizations.  The site's virtual food drive allows users to see the types and amounts of food local organizations can purchase with their donations.

Pacheco added: "Ensuring that older people have enough nutritious food is best done close to the problem, at the community level.  Around the Corner Hunger will help these critical organizations purchase the healthy foods older Californians need, especially in these tough economic times."

AARP Foundation is working to end hunger among older Americans through its Drive to End Hunger campaign.  The effort is raising awareness of hunger in America and driving resources and solutions to end this growing crisis.  To date, the Foundation has donated more than 3.5 million meals through local hunger relief organizations.  

To learn more, visit www.drivetoendhunger.org.

AARP Foundation is AARP's affiliated charity.  The Foundation is dedicated to serving vulnerable people 50+ by creating solutions that help them secure the essentials and achieve their best life.  AARP Foundation focuses on:  hunger, housing, income and isolation as our key mission areas.  The Foundation envisions: 'a country free of poverty where no older person feels vulnerable.'  Foundation programs are funded by grants, tax-deductible contributions and AARP.  For more information about AARP Foundation, please log on to www.aarpfoundation.org.

SOURCE AARP