WLOS to host food drive for Children First/CIS on June 6

Press Release

Children First

(Asheville, NC) News 13, Carolina Furniture Concepts, and Two Men & a Truck are hosting the second annual Break the Hunger food drive to help keep kids from going hungry during summer break. The station is asking viewers to bring non-perishable food items on Friday, June 6 to Carolina Furniture Concepts in Arden between 4:30AM to 7PM and in Waynesville from 9AM to 7PM.

Staff and volunteers from News 13 and the recipient nonprofit organizations will collect canned goods, formula, rice and other non-perishables. Other essential items like diapers, toothpaste, and toilet paper will also be accepted. All of the items donated will go to Children First/Communities In Schools of Buncombe County and Communities In Schools of the Great Smoky Mountains, who will then distribute the food and items to the
children and families they serve.

 “The need is great, as one out of every four children is at risk of hunger in Buncombe County alone, and more than half of children attending public school receive free or reduced lunch,” stated Allison Jordan, executive director of Children First/ Communities In Schools. “We’re thrilled that Buncombe County Schools’ Super Summer Meals program will be operating for the third summer in a row, but the News 13 food drive will really help fill in the gaps for struggling children and families. Last year’s drive brought in an additional 150 boxes of non-perishable food for our food pantry, which was a huge boost for our food pantry and the families we serve.”

Sandeep Gupta, owner of Carolina Furniture Concepts, the host location for the food drive, is excited about increasing the contributions this year. “I was on the advisory board of Buncombe County Schools, and I was shocked to hear how many of our children were going to bed hungry. For many of our children, their last big meal was on Friday at school. When WLOS contacted me last year to partner with Children First/CIS for this food drive, I didn’t hesitate.”

Jack Connors, General Manager of WLOS/WMYA sated, “WLOS News 13 is excited to partner with Children First/CIS and CIS of the Great Smokey Mountains for a second year in our Break the Hunger food drive. Last year saw great success as our viewers rose to the challenge and answered the call to help these two organizations provide food for the children and families they serve. We are hoping that this year will be even better, as the need is great. For many children who receive free and reduced lunch during the school year, the chances of them experiencing food insecurity during the summer months are increased. This food drive is one way we can partner with these two organizations and our viewers, to help make sure children don’t go hungry.”

Drop off locations are:
Carolina Furniture Concepts –
Arden Location 2617 Hendersonville Road, Suite #1 Arden, NC 28704
Drop off times: 4:30AM-7PM

Carolina Furniture Concepts –
Waynesville Location 121 Eagles Nest Road Waynesville, NC 28786 Drop off times: 9AM-7PM

Read More at: http://www.wlos.com/community/features/break-the-hunger

About Children First/Community In Schools
Children First/Communities In Schools of Buncombe County is a local non-profit that provides programs |to economically disadvantaged children & families. These include: Family Resource Center at Emma, Latino
Outreach, Learning Centers, CIS Success Coordinators, Project POWER/AmeriCorps, and advocacy. Children
First’s mission is to empower children and their families to reach their full potential through advocacy,
education and services. The mission of Communities In Schools is to surround students with a community of
support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life. To find out more go to www.childrenfirstcisbc.org