REGION'S LEASING COMPANIES HOSTING FOOD FOR PEOPLE DAY BENEFITS

Bridgeport, CT (April 22,2003) - - A growing list of leading businesses are partnering with the United Way of Eastern Fairfield County for Friday’s Food For People Day. The April 25 benefit was organized quickly after critical shortages were reported at food pantries and serving centers in Bridgeport, Easton, Fairfield, Monroe, Stratford and Trumbull.

According to the Reverend John Kidd, spokesperson for the Council of Churches’ network of food centers, more working class families are seeking assistance for the first time, which leaves area food pantries and serving locations hard-pressed to meet the increasing needs of those asking for assistance.

"Increasing unemployment and the current economic downturn are among the reasons why many more local working families are turning to food pantries for help," said Rev. Kidd. "Nationally, the number of families turning to local food pantries has risen 20 percent in the last 12 months."

United Way of Eastern Fairfield County responded to a call for help from Rev. Kidd and the 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. At press time, some of the region’s largest employers have answered the call to host collections. Those companies include Sikorsky Aircraft, Imagistics International, Identification Products, Rotair Industries, People's Bank, The Greater Bridgeport Transit Authority, Wal-Mart of Stratford, Fermont, NASDAQ, Lacy Manufacturing, Co., Jewish Center for Community Services, Advanced Radiology, High on the Hog BBQ Bistro, CT. Dept. of Social Sercives and Sacred Heart University.

Merle Berke-Schlessel, President and CPO of the local United Way was not surprised when the calls started coming in from companies looking to support the Food for People initiative.

"Our region is blessed to have some of the nation’s most public service-oriented, philanthropic industries," Berke-Schlessel said. "So many of the Food For People Day partners are household names, but these companies represent thousands of employees who live and work in our communities. These employees know the difficulties their neighbors and friends are facing in this economy, and it’s a credit to their employers for responding quickly when the call came in for help."

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.

Volunteers from the United Way will work alongside company representatives at the various sites on April 25. Anyone wishing to make an individual cash donation can do so at one of the companies listed above and at the United Way’s local office, or they can send their check to the United Way of Eastern Fairfield County, 75 Washington Ave., Bridgeport, CT 06604 - write ‘Food for People’ on the envelope, and on the memo line of the check.

A full listing of beneficiary food pantries and serving centers 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. In lieu of a cash donation, individuals can also register to volunteer at a local food center or pantry or other area nonprofit by clicking on the ‘Be a Volunteer’ link, and accessing the United Way’s Virtual Volunteer Center.

The Food For People initiative is also accepting applications for a permanent part-time coordinator. This volunteer will work 10 - 15 hours a week helping to establish partnerships with small, localized food centers and other community organizations in an ‘Adopt-A-Pantry’ program, and will coordinate other activities to help feed hungry children and families locally. Information for this opportunity is also available on 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.