December 11, 2007 - 6:48pm — sweetbliss27
Emergency Canned Food Drive
The Call to Action
Do Something and America's Second Harvest are issuing an urgent call for national support to collect and deliver a million cans of food by New Year's to help millions of Americans at risk of hunger during this holiday season. Go to www.emergencycannedfooddrive.com
The Problem
America's food banks and pantries are in desperate need. The New York Times recently reported that America's food banks are facing the worst food shortages in decades ("Food Banks, in a Squeeze, Tighten Belts”, November 2007). America's Second Harvest - The Nation's Food Network, which distributes more than two billion pounds of donated food and grocery products annually, said the shortages at food banks are the worst the organization has seen in 26 years.
"Food banks are calling us and saying, ‘My God, we have to get food.'” - America's Second Harvest Spokesperson
The Numbers
U.S. food banks are lacking total of 15 million pounds of food.
This translates into 11.7 million meals or 400 truckloads.
The Reason
A combination of economic decline from the housing market, changing food purchasing trends and the stalling of the Farm Bill in congress have all contributed to this shortage. America's Second Harvest has reported that even if the Farm Bill passes it will not meet the immediate need in the local food banks and pantries.
Record Your Cans by Midnight, December 31st
On Facebook:
http://apps.facebook.com/cannedfooddrive
The application is open to everyone to share with as many people as possible to raise awareness and more food. Join the Facebook group to share what you are doing: Emergency Canned Food Drive.
If you and your friends enter the most cans, your local food bank/pantry will receive $500 from Do Something.
On Do Something: http://www.emergencycannedfooddrive.com
This is open to schools across the U.S.. The school with the most cans will receive a $500 grant from Do Something to combat hunger in your local area.
Top 11 things pantries need...
1. Peanut Butter
2. Canned Tuna
3. Canned Soup
4. Dry Soup Packets
5. Canned Stews
6. Cereal
7. Canned Fruits
8. Canned Vegetables
9. Pasta
10. Rice
11. Instant Potatoes
Please help stop hunger!