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PRESS
ADVISORY: FOOD FOR PEOPLE
Bridgeport, CT (April 9,2003) - With more working class families
going hungry, area food pantries and food serving locations
are hard-pressed to meet the increasing needs of those who
come for assistance. Increasing unemployment rates and the
general economic downturn is forcing many local families to
turn to food pantries for help. Throughout the U.S., the number
of families turning to local food pantries has risen 20 percent
in the last 12 months.
United Way of Eastern Fairfield County (UWEFC) is responding
to a call for help from the regional Council of Churches by
designating April 25 as Food For People Day - a one-day benefit
to collect and distribute funds to a regional network of serving
centers and pantries. The United Way needs local companies
to participate by allowing use of their place of business
as a collection site and volunteers to staff those sites.
Food pantries and serving centers in the UWEFC service region
- Bridgeport, Easton, Fairfield, Monroe, Stratford and Trumbull,
will receive proceeds, distributed by United Way's partner
agency The Council of Churches. The day long initiative is
accepting cash donations instead of non-perishable food items
because its partnering organizations have the means to double
or even triple the buying power of every donated dollar.
Additionally, pantries can use the funds to purchase food
and supplies that are most needed but not typically collected
through food drives such as perishable nutrition essentials
such as dairy products and eggs, baby items, hygiene products
and foods for those with special dietary restrictions like
diabetics.
Anyone who lives or works in the Bridgeport region is welcome
to participate as a volunteer, even if they only have an hour
or two. But it is equally important for high traffic businesses
and large companies, especially those with employee cafeterias
or other gathering places to help by allowing a United Way
volunteer or a company liaison to staff a collection there.
Any company willing to help should contact Cathy Greco at
UWEFC by phone at 203-334-5106 ext. 304, or by email: cgreco@thewaytocare.org.
A full listing of beneficiary food pantries and serving centers,
a printable participation form and more information is available
on the UWEFC website: www.thewaytocare.org - just click on
the Food For People item in the 'what matters' section of
the homepage. Volunteers can also register to volunteer by
clicking on the 'Be a Volunteer' link, and accessing the United
Way's Virtual Volunteer Center.
United Way focuses on what matters, and builds stronger communities
by supporting nearly 80 health and human service programs
that helped more than 180,000 people last year. United Way
funded programs are involved in a range of critical services
serving the six towns of Bridgeport, Easton, Fairfield, Monroe,
Stratford, and Trumbull.
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And
lives were changed... |
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Last year, 20 individuals with severe disabilities were able
to participate in a Community Experience Program. |
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