Stamp Out Hunger 2009
Press Release
CAMPBELL SOUP COMPANY TEAMS WITH THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LETTER CARRIERS TO HELP STAMP OUT HUNGER!
Nation’s Largest Single-Day Food Drive Expected to Surpass One Billion Pounds of Donations This Year; Will Help the Increasing Number of Americans at Risk of Hunger
CAMDEN, N.J., January 14, 2010 - On Saturday, May 8, Campbell Soup Company will join forces with the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) to Stamp Out Hunger! across America in order to provide assistance to the rapidly increasing number of Americans who are struggling with hunger.
Now in its 18th year, the Stamp Out Hunger! effort is the nation’s largest single-day food drive. In 2010, drive organizers hope to exceed last year’s record-setting total of 73.4 million pounds of donated food, as well as surpass one billion pounds of food collected over the history of the drive.
Unfortunately, despite the generosity of millions of Americans who have supported the letter carriers' food drive in previous years, the need for food assistance has never been greater. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s annual study measuring food security in the United States, the number of Americans living in food insecure homes increased from 36.2 million in 2007, to 49.1 million in 2008. Perhaps most alarming, of this total, approximately one in four is a child (16.7 million).
The effects of the recession and unemployment rates are also having a dramatic impact on the agencies that help the hungry. In a recent survey conducted by Feeding America, the nation’s leading domestic-hunger-relief organization, its 203 food bank members consistently reported increased demand for emergency food assistance, ranging from five to 150 percent. Today, food banks are struggling to meet the surging needs of their clients.
“In these trying times it’s important for Americans to rally behind causes like the Letter Carriers Food Drive to help their neighbors struggling with hunger,” said Fredric V. Rolando, NALC president. “While we’re very proud of our success over the years in the battle against hunger, the fact remains that more Americans than ever are in need, which is why we remain committed to this drive.”
To help Stamp Out Hunger! this year, simply leave a sturdy bag containing non-perishable foods, such as canned soup, canned vegetables, pasta, rice or cereal next to your mailbox prior to the time of regular mail delivery on Saturday, May 8. Food items should be in non-breakable containers, such as boxes and cans. The nation’s 230,000 letter carriers will then collect the donations as they deliver the mail and take them to food banks and other hunger relief organizations in more than 10,000 local communities.
A HELPING HAND
Campbell, a long time supporter of the letter carriers' drive, will kick off the effort with a donation of one million pounds of product to Feeding America. The company also sponsors, along with the U.S. Postal Service, a reminder postcard being mailed to more than 120 million homes the week of the drive.
“Our corporate mission is to nourish people's lives everywhere, every day,” said Douglas R. Conant, Campbell’s President and CEO. “Campbell’s ongoing commitment to the Letter Carriers’ food drive allows our company to make a meaningful contribution toward the critical issue of hunger that is impacting more and more Americans daily. The power of this program is when millions of Americans have the opportunity to provide a food donation that will then be used to help a neighbor in need in their community.”
For more information about the annual Stamp Out Hunger! effort in your community, ask your letter carrier, contact your local post office, visit either www.helpstampouthunger.com or www.facebook.com/StampOutHunger, or follow the drive at www.twitter.com/StampOutHunger.
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About Campbell Soup Company
Campbell Soup Company is a global manufacturer and marketer of high-quality foods and simple meals, including soup, baked snacks, and healthy beverages. Founded in 1869, the company has a portfolio of market-leading brands, including “Campbell’s,” “Pepperidge Farm,” “Arnott’s,” and “V8.” For more information on the company, visit Campbell’s website at www.campbellsoup.com.
Feeding America provides low-income individuals and families with the fuel to survive and even thrive. As the nation's leading domestic hunger-relief charity, our network members supply food to more than 25 million Americans each year, including 9 million children and 3 million seniors. Serving the entire United States, more than 200 member food banks support 63,000 agencies that address hunger in all of its forms. Feeding America is based in Chicago. For more information on how you can fight hunger in your community and across the country, visit http://www.feedingamerica.org. Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FeedingAmerica or follow our news on Twitter at http://twitter.com/Feedingamerica.
Contact:
Mike Gehrig
512-794-4712
mgehrig@webershandwick.com
John Faulkner
856-342-3738
john_w_faulkner@campbellsoup.com
Fact Sheet
STAMP OUT HUNGER! 2010
Food Drive Fact Sheet
On Saturday, May 8, the Campbell Soup Company will team up with the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) to collect food donations in order to provide assistance to the rapidly increasing number of Americans who are struggling with hunger during the NALC’s annual Stamp Out Hunger! food drive.
Beyond the Call of Duty...
- The Stamp Out Hunger! drive is a nationwide effort to provide food to local food banks and pantries that would otherwise have depleted stocks during the summer months and are experiencing universal increases in demand for emergency food assistance due to the current recession as well as growing unemployment rates.
- The nation’s 230,000 letter carriers will collect food donations left at the mailboxes of generous Americans in more than 10,000 local communities and deliver them to food banks and other hunger relief organizations.
- Now in its 18th year, the Stamp Out Hunger! effort is the nation’s largest single-day food drive, having collected nearly one billion pounds of food since its inception in 1993, including a record setting total of 73.4 million pounds in 2009.
- As part of the company’s corporate mission to nourish people's lives everywhere, every day, Campbell is supporting this important initiative by kicking off the food drive with a national donation to food banks across the country and is also sponsoring, along with the U.S. Postal Service, a reminder postcard being mailed to more than 120 million homes the week of the drive.
The Face of Hunger…
- Despite the generosity of millions of Americans who have supported efforts like the Stamp Out Hunger! food drive, the need for food assistance has never been greater. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s annual study measuring food security in the United States, Household Food Security in the United States, 2008, the number of Americans living in food insecure homes increased from 36.2 million in 2007 to 49.1 million in 2008, with approximately one in every four food insecure Americans being a child (16.7 million).
- A recent survey conducted by Feeding America, the nation’s leading domestic-hunger-relief organization, of its 203 food bank members reported universal increases in demand for emergency food assistance, ranging from five percent to 150 percent, as well as a growing inability to meet the surging needs of their clients.
_________• More than 90 percent of the food banks reported surges in demand __________ being driven by more first-time users of the food assistance system __________ and more newly unemployed.
_________• 72 percent reported existing clients needing assistance more __________ frequently now than in the past.
_________• 56 percent reported seeing more children as clients.
_________• 55 percent reported that they or the agencies that help distribute __________ the food they provide have had to turn people away in the last year.
_________• Nearly 80 percent reported that they or their partner agencies have __________ had to reduce the amount of food provided or the frequency of food __________ distributions in their area.
You Can Help...
- Helping Stamp Out Hunger! is as easy as checking your mailbox. Just leave a bag of non-perishable food where your letter carrier normally delivers your mail on Saturday, May 8. Your letter carrier will then pick up and deliver the food to a local food bank. Examples of non-perishable items include:
_________• Canned meats and fish
_________• Canned vegetables, fruits and juices
_________• Boxed goods (such as cereal)
_________• Pasta and rice
- For more information about the annual Stamp Out Hunger! effort in your community, ask your letter carrier, contact your local post office or visit either www.helpstampouthunger.com or www.facebook.com/StampOutHunger, or follow the drive at www.twitter.com/StampOutHunger.
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