PRESS RELEASE from MANNA FoodBank:
Asheville, NC (Nov. 8, 2016) – Ingles Markets and MANNA FoodBank invite the community to attend the 24th annual lighting of the Ingles Giving Tree at the Asheville Mall on Monday, Nov. 21, 2016, from 5:00 – 7:00 P.M.
The Giving Tree is a 10-ton construction of non-perishable food items donated by Ingles Markets, and constructed and decorated by MANNA FoodBank staff and volunteers. Laura Ingle will light the tree and musical entertainment will be provided by the Bell Elementary School Chorus, with a special performance by the Asheville Choral Society.
The Giving Tree is a symbol of our community’s efforts to end hunger across Western North Carolina.
In WNC, 1 in 6 people is food insecure. For children, that number is alarmingly higher: 1 in 4 children in WNC do not have regular access to the food they need to thrive.
“We partner with MANNA year-round to help provide food for families facing hunger,” said Ron Freeman, CFO of Ingles Markets, in a statement. “We recognize that the holidays can be especially difficult. We invite our customers to celebrate the lighting of the tree and to join in giving in whatever way they can.”
“In 2015, MANNA distributed over 15.7 million pounds of food to WNC,” said Hannah Randall, Chief Executive Officer of MANNA FoodBank. “This is enough to provide 36,000 meals to families across Western North Carolina every day. As the need for food rises across WNC, it is vital that we continue to provide the food our community needs, when they need it. This would not be possible without the strong support of corporate partners like Ingles or the generosity of donors and volunteers,” she said. “We celebrate these acts of kindness every year when we light the Giving Tree.”
Ingles will offer entry into a drawing for a $500 gas card to anyone that donates food at the Giving Tree on Nov. 21 and 22. The drawing for the gift card will be Nov. 23; you do not need to be present to win. Ingles will match all financial donations made to MANNA at the Giving Tree, up to $25,000.
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