Wal-Mart and ConAgra Foods Donate to America's Second Harvest to Fight Hunger by Reducing Shortages at Food Banks Nationwide

Wal-Mart donates 50 truckloads of food and grocery products to supply 3 million meals. ConAgra Foods contributes 35 truckloads of product, valued at $1 million, and issues a $200,000 matching grant program.

As food banks coast to coast face a potential crisis, Wal-Mart and ConAgra Foods are leading the way to feed Americans in need

Chicago, IL (PRWEB) December 19, 2007 -- In response to the food shortage at food banks across the country, America's Second Harvest - The Nation's Food Bank Network today announced that Wal-Mart and ConAgra Foods are making significant donations to ensure no Americans go hungry this holiday season.

Earlier today, Wal-Mart announced a donation of 50 truckloads of food and grocery products that will be dispatched to food banks in every state, helping to provide 3 million meals this holiday season. The donation is supported by a $1 million contribution to America's Second Harvest.
ConAgra Foods, in response to Wal-Mart's pledge, is joining Wal-Mart by contributing 35 truckloads of its products, valued at $1 million. To further encourage all Americans to donate, ConAgra Foods is issuing the ConAgra Foods Challenge and will match individual gifts, up to $200,000, made to America's Second Harvest through the end of the year.

"As food banks coast to coast face a potential crisis, Wal-Mart and ConAgra Foods are leading the way to feed Americans in need," said Vicki Escarra, president and CEO of America's Second Harvest. "Not only will their contributions make a measurable difference to the increased number of individuals seeking emergency food assistance this holiday season, but we hope that other corporations, organizations and individuals will be inspired to dig a little deeper this year so that no one goes hungry."

America's Second Harvest, the nation's largest domestic hunger relief organization, has projected an immediate food shortage of 11.7 million meals. Across the country, the Second Harvest Network is responding to an unprecedented need for support from families struggling to make ends meet. The ailing economy and rising food and fuel prices are taking their toll, and families are facing tough choices, such as whether to pay to heat their homes or buy groceries. At the same time, inventories are at devastatingly low levels at Second Harvest's nationwide network of more than 200 food banks. The thousands of food service agencies they support are struggling to feed those arriving at their doors.

"The hunger crisis our nation's food banks are currently facing is something that all of us at Wal-Mart care about and are taking very seriously," said Margaret McKenna, president of the Wal-Mart Foundation. "We are pleased to be in a position to respond to the call to action from America's Second Harvest, and hope that this donation will help them to feed those who are hungry this holiday season."

"Nothing is more heartbreaking than someone visiting a food bank to find empty shelves - especially during the holidays," said Christopher Kircher, president, ConAgra Foods Foundation. "As a long-standing partner of America's Second Harvest, we wanted to do our part to make sure that no one goes hungry this holiday season. We hope our matching grants will inspire people to make a donation to America's Second Harvest knowing that we'll match their contribution. Together, we can all make a difference."

Thanks to Wal-Mart's contribution, America's Second Harvest will receive truckloads of staples such as macaroni and cheese, oatmeal, peanut butter and jelly, spaghetti pasta and sauce, as well as corn, beans and potatoes. ConAgra Foods' donation includes hearty, nutritious foods, such as Marie Callender's meals, pot pies and soups; Healthy Choice meals, Hunt's tomatoes, and a variety of snacks, such as Orville Redenbacher's and Act II popcorn, pastries, granola bars and cereal.

The partnership between Wal-Mart and America's Second Harvest began in 2005 when the two organizations worked together to support hurricane relief efforts. Since that time, the company and its customers have contributed approximately $15 million which has been distributed to food banks across America to help feed individuals at risk of hunger. In addition, Wal-Mart works exclusively with America's Second Harvest on its food reclamation program, which last year provided 14 million pounds of dry grocery items valued at $21 million to food banks and related organizations across the U.S.

The mission of the ConAgra Foods Foundation is to ensure every child in America has access to the foods they need to sustain a nutritious diet and balanced lifestyle…and the chance to succeed in school and life. It's about nourishing kids today so that they can flourish tomorrow. Since 1999, ConAgra Foods has committed more than $20 million and 145 million pounds of donated product to America's Second Harvest to help end child hunger. The ConAgra Foods foundation has funded the startup of more than 250 new Kids Cafes, supported technology and transportation programs for the America's Second Harvest Network of food banks (including the purchase of 167 trucks for food banks) and sponsored the Ad Council child hunger campaign.

Personal donations to America's Second Harvest can be made online at http://www.secondharvest.org.

About America's Second Harvest--The Nation's Food Bank Network
America's Second Harvest-- The Nation's Food Bank Network is the largest charitable domestic hunger-relief organization in the United States. Through its network of more than 200 member food banks, America's Second Harvest annually provides assistance to more than 25 million people in need, including more than 9 million children and nearly 3 million seniors in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Each year, America's Second Harvest secures and distributes more than 2 billion pounds of food and grocery products to support feeding programs at approximately 50,000 local charitable agencies, including food pantries, soup kitchens, emergency shelters, after-school programs, and Kids Cafes. To learn more, please visit America's Second Harvest.

About ConAgra Foods, Inc. (NYSE:CAG)
ConAgra Foods, Inc., (NYSE:CAG) is one of North America's leading packaged food companies, serving consumer grocery retailers, as well as restaurants and other foodservice establishments. Popular ConAgra Foods consumer brands include: Banquet, Chef Boyardee, Egg Beaters, Healthy Choice, Hebrew National, Hunt's, Marie Callender's, Orville Redenbacher's, PAM and many others. For more information, please visit us at ConAgra Foods.

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