Press release
From MANNA FoodBank:
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (July 12, 2013) Today, Ingles Markets presented MANNA FoodBank with a check in the amount of $16,000. This generous gift was made possible by Ingles shoppers throughout the 16 counties of MANNA’s service area. With each customer purchase of a $1 MANNA Giving Circle, Ingles made a matching donation. The four-week campaign raised a total of $16,000!
Ingles Markets celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, and investing in MANNA and the vision for a hunger-free WNC seemed like a fitting way to mark this special milestone for the grocery store chain. Ron Freeman, Ingles Chief Financial Officer said, “We realize unemployment in our region remains high; we are committed to helping those families in need by keeping food on the table. MANNA is the perfect partner for us to make that happen.”
“This donation comes at a critical time of year for our neighbors facing hunger, particularly children,” said Cindy Threlkeld, MANNA FoodBank Executive Director. “Hunger doesn’t take a summer vacation when school is out. During the summer months, thousands of children lose access to free and reduced lunch programs, a critical source of nutrition. Research shows that children who experience hunger face significant stress and challenges that can have a lasting effect on their physical, cognitive and behavioral development.”
Hunger is a huge challenge for our community, and together we can solve it. Right now, 1 out of 4 WNC children are at risk for hunger. In 7 of the 16 counties in MANNA’s service area, that figure grows to over 30%. What does it mean for a child to be at risk for hunger? It simply means that he or she does not always have access to enough food for an active healthy life.
MANNA works to end hunger in our region through the distribution of more than 11 million pounds of food to our partner agencies, which include shelters, pantries, soup kitchens and other organizations all over our region. MANNA Packs for Kids and the Summer Food service program target children facing hunger.
About MANNA FoodBank
MANNA FoodBank is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization serving Western North Carolina since 1983. As an accredited member of Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger relief organization, the mission of MANNA FoodBank is to involve, educate, and unite people in the work of ending hunger in Western North Carolina. MANNA serves 221 non-profit member agencies in 16 Western North Carolina counties and distributed more than 11 million pounds of food in 2012. To view MANNA’s Annual Report for 2012, or for more information, visit MANNAFoodbank.org or call 828-299-FOOD.
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