NW Farmers Cash/Food Drive Delivers Donations equal to 195,000+ lbs. of Food
SEATTLE, July 28, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --The 2nd Annual NW Farmers Fighting Hunger Cash/Food Drive, a joint project of the Oregon and Washington Dairy Products Commissions during June Dairy Month, delivered a total of 195,632 pounds of food (food/cash equivalent*) in the two states. This years total was approximately 95,000 lbs. more food/cash equivalent than the total raised during the 2014 cash/food drive.
Promoted by the Oregon and Washington Dairy Products Commissions, and Fred Meyer and QFC stores, the project is developed in partnership with the Oregon Department of Agriculture, Washington State Department of Agriculture, Oregon Food Bank Network, Food Lifeline, and Second Harvest.
Collection barrels were located at 110 Fred Meyer stores and 60 QFC locations, with cash donations accepted at Fred Meyer checkout registers and on-line. Although the cash/food drive has concluded, the need for donations remains. The NW Farmers Fighting Hunger website will continue to accept cash donations dedicated to one of the three food banks.
"Partnering with Washington and Oregon dairy farmers in a combined effort to fight childhood hunger means a lot to our entire employee team," said Melinda Merrill, with Fred Meyer Stores. "The partnership draws attention to the need for food during the summer months when school breakfast and lunch programs are suspended."
Washington State Department of Agriculture Director, Derek Sandison, and Oregon Department of Agriculture Director, Katy Coba, supported the project again this year by engaging in a friendly competition. A 'Director's Trophy' is awarded each year to the state that contributes the most food/cash equivalent.
Washington will take this year's trophy with cash donations of $16,609, equivalent to 66,436 pounds, plus 54,164 pounds of donated food for a total of 120,600 pounds. Oregon's cash contribution was $5,518, equivalent to 22,072 pounds of food, plus 52,960 pounds of donated food for a total of 75,034 pounds.
*$10 cash donation = 40 lbs. of donated food
About Dairy Farmers of Oregon and Washington
Dairy Farmers of Oregon (a.k.a. Oregon Dairy Products Commission) and Dairy Farmers of Washington (a.k.a. Washington Dairy Products Commission) are dairy farmer funded quasi-state agencies to promote the consumption of dairy products in each state, and to educate people about dairy products, dairy farmers and the dairy industry. Dairy farmers provide nutrition education through the Oregon Dairy Council and Washington Dairy Council.
For information contact: Pete DeLaunay (206) 579-4883
SOURCE Dairy Farmers of Washington
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