Capital Area Food Bank is Ramping Up to Meet Increased Demand for Food
Washington, DC (PRWEB) October 16, 2013 -- The Capital Area Food Bank is calling on area businesses, individuals and foundations to help it ramp up its food supply in the event that the government shutdown continues.
“We are working full time to serve the children, seniors and families who need food,” said Nancy E Roman, President and CEO of the Capital Area Food Bank. “But make no mistake, if SNAP and WIC – two important government nutrition programs – are cut, we will see longer food lines,” she added.
The Capital Area Food today reaffirmed the Capital Area Food Bank’s commitment to reaching those in the Washington metro area who are suffering from the government shut down and in need of food provided by the food bank’s 500 partner agencies throughout the region.
Roman said, “I want to reassure our partner agencies and those they serve that the Capital Area Food Bank is committed to meeting the increased demand for food.”
She also welcomes any furloughed federal employee who is able to volunteer, to visit one of the two food bank locations in the Washington metro area and spend some time sorting donated food and packing weekend bags. “If you are wondering what to do today, you should consider volunteering at either of our two distribution centers. We can certainly use your help as we ramp up our efforts to serve our neighbors who are at risk of hunger. You are always welcome, even after the shutdown,” she added.
Over 50 furloughed workers from a number of federal agencies, the White House and the University of the District of Columbia made good use of their time away from their offices last week by volunteering at the CAFB. One of them who came with a group of friends said, “People in the federal government care about service. That’s why we’re here.”
Included among the volunteers were a number government employees who participated in Feds Feed Families, the recently concluded three-month government food drive run by the USDA that encourages federal employees to participate in an annual national food drive. The agencies compete with each other for the largest donations and everything that’s collected goes to local food banks. The CAFB received 600,000 pounds from this year’s food drive.
The Capital Area Food Bank relies on private, corporate and foundation funds to provide the 45 million pounds of food it distributes annually to 500,000 food insecure individuals in the region. Volunteers, numbering 21,000 a year, play a critical role in the food bank’s operation. Those who would like to help prepare for rising hunger needs should call 202.644.9800.
The two food distribution center locations are: 4900 Puerto Rico Ave., NE Washington, DC and the Northern Virginia Branch at 6833 Hill Park Drive Lorton, VA.
The Capital Area Food Bank, a member of Feeding America, was founded on January 15 – Martin Luther King’s birthday – in 1980 and takes a comprehensive approach to addressing hunger by increasing access to nutritious food, initiating change through skill-building and advocacy, and creating sustainability with outreach and training for those at risk of hunger. The CAFB is the Washington metro area’s largest public, nonprofit food and nutrition education resource.
Page Crosland, Capital Area Food Bank, http://www.capitalareafoodbank.org, +1 2026449816, [email protected]
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