Rotarians Against Hunger annual food drive focused on WNC

From the press release:

Asheville, NC – Plans for the Rotarians Against Hunger (RAH) Third Annual Food Packaging Event is well underway with strong commitments from Thermo Fisher Scientific and Asheville-based artist Jonas Gerard.

The Third Annual RAH will take place April 28, 2012, when 50,000 bags (enough food for 300,000 meals) will be packaged, boxed and readied for distribution throughout Western North Carolina and internationally to meet pressing needs. In Western North Carolina, 1 in 6 individuals are food insecure, and of these, 40,000 are children.

RAH, is raising $45,000 to provide for purchasing and packaging the food. In partnership with Mission Children’s Hospital, Kids Against Hunger and MANNA FoodBank, Rotary seeks to address the increasingly critical need for food among our WNC neighbors and partner in international Rotary efforts to meet critical health and food security demands overseas.

To assist in raising funds, Jonas Gerard has given his painting “Primeval Virtue #5″ to RAH to sell. This 40” x 40” acrylic on canvas has a retail value of $2550. This gift represents the second of a three-year commitment in which Gerard has placed his enthusiastic support behind RAH. The painting is on display in the Grove Arcade and will be auctioned to the highest bidder through bids submitted at www.rotariansagainsthunger.org. 100% of the proceeds will be used to purchase food for this effort.

“It is exciting to join Rotary’s efforts in directly addressing the pressing need for food among the most vulnerable in our population,” says Gerard.

Thermo Fisher Scientific’s $5,000 gift makes them the lead event sponsor to date. “Thermo Fisher Scientific’s Asheville area employees are glad to be supporting the Rotarians Against Hunger event again this April,” says Jose Bonet, Director of Research & Development and Chair of the Community Action Council at the Asheville facility of Thermo Fisher Scientific. He adds, “Last year’s RAH event was Thermo Fisher’s first event with the Rotarians and it was a huge success. We had more than 80 Thermo employees, friends and family members volunteer for this worthy cause. Thermo Fisher’s mission is to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. Volunteering at events like this is one step towards achieving that goal.”

Rotary Club of Asheville President Oscar Wong says, “It is extremely gratifying to have Thermo Fisher and Jonas Gerard contribute to such an extent that our goal for Rotary’s efforts to meet the food needs of WNC is now well underway. Our Club can’t thank you enough!”

ABOUT ROTARIANS AGAINST HUNGER (RAH)
The Rotary Clubs of Asheville and Asheville South, together with other Rotary clubs in Western North Carolina, Mission Children’s Hospital, Kids Against Hunger and MANNA FoodBank, are joining forces to combat the hunger crisis that is gripping our area. On April 28, 2012, over 750 volunteers will gather to prepare, package and ready for delivery nutritious meals for 300,000. This Third Annual Rotarians Against Hunger (RAH), in partnership with MANNA FoodBank, will distribute 70% of the food to our neighbors in Western North Carolina and 30% to families in need through Rotary International.

Tax deductible donations can be made to: Mission Healthcare Foundation with a notation that they are for RAH (Rotarians Against Hunger); the checks should be mailed to:

Mission Healthcare Foundation
Attn: Rotarians Against Hunger
980 Hendersonville Road, Suite C
Asheville, NC 28803

For more information, please visit www.RotariansAgainstHunger.org.