Arby’s Foundation partners with Eblen Charities to combat childhood hunger

From Arby’s:

ARBY’S FOUNDATION AIMS TO END CHILDHOOD HUNGER IN ASHEVILLE WITH “SCHOOLS’S OUT, FOOD’S IN” PROGRAM

Foundation to Provide 30,000 Redeemable Meals to Asheville Children in Need this Summer

ATLANTA (June 2, 2016) – For the millions of children who receive free or reduced price lunch while school is in session, the end of the school year can cause more stress than celebration. In North Carolina, the child food insecurity rate is 26 percent, meaning one in four children have limited access to adequate food. To help combat childhood hunger in Asheville, the Arby’s Foundation will kick off its annual “School’s Out, Food’s In” program to ensure at-risk children in the community receive proper nourishment during the summer months. Beginning June 9, Asheville children who rely on meal assistance during the school year will receive meal cards to redeem 10 free, wholesome Arby’s® Kid’s Meals throughout the summer.

“Childhood hunger is a serious issue that affects families all over the country, yet many of us don’t realize food insecurity occurs in our own communities,” said Chris Fuller, Executive Director, Arby’s Foundation. “Through our ’School’s Out, Food’s In’ program, we are committed to ensuring every child receives the food and nourishment they need when they no longer have access to school meals. Together, we can support our neighbors in the fight against childhood hunger and give kids the worry-free summer they deserve.”

As part of the “School’s Out, Food’s In” program, Arby’s Foundation will work with Eblen Charities to distribute 3,000 meal cards, each redeemable for 10 free meals, to Asheville children in need. Each meal card also provides the national summer meals texting number so families can find free, federal summer meals programs in their community.

“No child should ever go hungry, but the reality is that some children will have limited access to food while school is closed over the summer,” said Bill Murdock, Eblen Charities Executive Director. “Thankfully, Arby’s provides these children and their families with an easily accessible solution. We are incredibly proud to be participating in the ‘School’s Out, Food’s In’ program as we join their efforts to end childhood hunger in Asheville.”

While school is in session, more than 21 million school children nationwide receive free or reduced price lunch; however, five out of six of those children do not receive that meal in the summer, according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The Arby’s Foundation has provided access to more than 1.85 million wholesome meals in local markets through its “School’s Out, Food’s In” initiative since it launched in 2014. This year, nearly 165,000 meal cards will be distributed in participating cities across the country, providing access to 1.65 million meals in these markets.

The Arby’s Foundation was founded as a way for Arby’s to give back to the communities it serves. Over the past 30 years, the Arby’s Foundation has donated more than $76 million to various youth-related causes across America and has had a specific focus on childhood hunger since 2011. As part of the brand’s year-round commitment to ending childhood hunger, every purchase of an Arby’s Kids Meal helps fund the work of the Arby’s Foundation.

For more information on the Arby’s Foundation and ways to get involved, visit arbysfoundation.org.

About the Arby’s Foundation, Inc.
The Arby’s Foundation, whose mission is to end childhood hunger in America, is the independent charitable arm of Arby’s Restaurant Group, Inc. Building on a philanthropic heritage that has contributed more than $76 million to child-related causes since its inception in 1986, the Arby’s Foundation has launched a bold new movement to educate, mobilize and empower Americans with the knowledge and resources needed to ensure food security for every single child. Today, 16.7 million U.S. children—more than 1 in 5—face hunger daily; the Arby’s Foundation, through the AFA Service Corporation (Arby’s Franchise Association), Arby’s National Restaurant Fundraising Program, Community Grants Program, Corporate Partnership Programs, and community outreach initiatives has devoted its resources to providing access to wholesome food choices for children across the country. The Arby’s Foundation is a registered 501 (c) (3) organization headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. To learn more, visit arbysfoundation.org