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Feeding America and The Salvation Army
have formed a unique and historic partnership to provide
millions of pounds of food to thousands of Texans still
recovering from the physical and economic devastation of
Hurricane Ike.
The Salvation Army provided $625,000 to
Feeding America (formerly named America's Second Harvest - The
Nation's Food Bank Network) to purchase food at cost from
Kroger for continuing disaster relief efforts in Texas. This
donation was matched with an additional $250,000 in funding
from Feeding America. These combined funds were used to
acquire a variety of food staples such as peanut butter,
canned soup and stews, canned tuna, and other essential and
nutritious food items that are being packed in 35,000 "family
boxes" that will be distributed to at-risk families throughout
Texas. Kroger also covered transportation costs.
Coordinated by the Texas Food Bank
Network and the Houston Food Bank, hundreds of volunteers are
packing boxes at the Houston facility, as well as at the
Capitol Area Food Bank in Austin, The North Texas Food Bank in
Dallas, and the Tarrant Area Food Bank in Fort Worth. The
boxes will be distributed by The Salvation Army.
"This is a great step forward in
combining our efforts, resources and expertise with our valued
colleagues at The Salvation Army," said Vicki Escarra,
president and CEO of Feeding America. "We are especially
grateful to Kroger for the massive effort they have made to
make this happen. They have generously provided this food at
their own cost to enable us to provide a tremendous number of
meals to people in desperate need. These partnerships could
not have come as a better time, as demand for emergency food
remains high throughout the areas devastated by Hurricane
Ike."
"Families that have been affected by
Hurricane Ike in the Southeast Texas region need all the help
they can get at this very moment. We have been there since the
beginning, providing relief and assistance by the millions,
and are grateful to Feeding America for their support," said
Major Marshall Gesner, Area Commander for The Salvation Army
of Greater Houston.
"Kroger is a long time supporter of
Feeding America and The Salvation Army," stated Gary
Huddleston, Director of Consumer Affairs. "We are very proud
to help with this Hurricane relief effort."
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