For Immediate ReleaseContact: Valerie TorrezContact: Sonya Warwick
June 13, 2013(575) 680-1900 - office(505) 349-8682 – office
(505) 269-4775 – cell
SCHOOL’S OUT BUT HUNGER’S STILL IN SESSION
DONOR FUNDSNEW SUMMER FOOD SITES TO HELP
FAMILIES AND CHILDREN
Las Cruces, NM–For low-income and vulnerable families and their children, summer can be a time of increased hunger. Many low-income families’ children qualify for school subsidized meals during the school year, but once summer is here, suddenly families don’t have the ability to afford those extra meals at home.
With the help of Feeding® America donor Morgan Stanley, those families struggling to provide extra meals this summer will now have access to food. Morgan Stanley has gifted Roadrunner Food Bank through its national tie to Feeding® America $50,000 to fund eight summer feeding sites during the summer months through the week of August 5th, three of which are being administered by Las Cruces Public Schools. About 75 families in Las Cruces will receive 50 pounds of food or nearly 42 mealsat each distribution. About half of the food they receive every other week is produce.
“Giving back has been a cornerstone of Morgan Stanley’s culture and values since our founding in 1935,” said James P. Gorman, President and CEO of Morgan Stanley. “Our partnership with Feeding America has long been an important way for us to create impact, and I am proud of the innovative programs we have worked on together that give children the healthy start they need for lifelong achievement.”
Roadrunner Food Bank will deliver the food to each of the eight sites bi-weekly during the summer months through its Mobile Food Pantry. Families in need whose children attend the eight schools will receive the food. The Mobile Food Pantrybrings nutritious food to underserved communities across the state. Last fiscal year the program brought nearly 4 million pounds of food to communities helping more than 230,000 people with food in 16 counties.
Funding for the summer program is thanks to a gift from Morgan Stanley to Feeding® America and its nationwide network of food banks. Morgan Stanley pledged $8 million to Feeding® America, which is largest gift ever received by the organization. Roadrunner Food Bank is the only member of Feeding America in New Mexico and has been awarded Morgan Stanley funds to feed hungry families this summer along with other Feeding® America food banks across the United States.
For more information about the Mobile Summer Food Sites, contact Alissa Barnes at 505.349.5335 or Valerie Torrez at 575.680.1900.
About Roadrunner Food Bank
New Mexico is ranked as one of the hungriest and most poverty stricken states in the nation. Roadrunner® Food Bank, a Feeding America member, is the largest non-profit dedicated to solving hunger in New Mexico and operates warehouses in Albuquerque and Las Cruces. Last year, the Food Bank distributed nearly 23 million pounds of food through its own programs, a statewide network of partner agencies, and regional food banks helping nearly 40,000 children and adults weekly. The Food Bank also rescued more than 16 million pounds of food last year keeping food out of landfills. For more information about Roadrunner Food Bank, visit
About Feeding America
Feeding America is a nationwide network of more than 200 food banks that leads the fight against hunger in the United States. Together, we provide food to more than 37 million people through 61,000 food pantries, soup kitchens, and shelters in communities across America. Feeding America also supports programs that improve food security among the people we serve; educates the public about the problem of hunger; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry. Individuals, charities, businesses and government all have a role in ending hunger.Visit Find us on Facebook at facebook.com/FeedingAmericaor follow our news on Twitter at twitter.com/FeedingAmerica.
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