FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Mar 29, 2010
Raleigh – Inter-Faith Food Shuttle has created an innovative solution to fight hunger by combining the Pound For Pound Challenge and the use of social media.
NBC’s The Biggest Loser, General Mills, Subway, 24 Hour Fitness and Feeding America have partnered on the Pound For Pound Challenge, a program that encourages residents in the Greater Triangle and Americans across the country to lose weight nationally to help provide hunger relief locally. For every pound of weight participants pledge to lose, a pound of groceries will be delivered to a local food bank.
Inter-Faith Food Shuttle’s Chief Development Officer, Melissa Wanjert Hartzell, decided to pledge weight for the challenge. Utilizing various forms of social media and blogging, Hartzell’s story is told on Inter-Faith Food Shuttle’s blog, Facebook page and Twitter account.
Last week Hartzell posted on her personal Facebook account: “I am pledging to lose 40 pounds by my 40th birthday for Inter-Faith Food Shuttle. Would you please consider making a pledge to donate $1 per pound I lose by June 30th?” More than 55 people have since joined Inter-Faith Food Shuttle’s cause on Facebook and several have committed to support her weight loss monetarily. Hartzell also says she is excited that the work she’s doing to live healthier is making a difference and serving as a catalyst for others to help.
To follow Melissa’s journey on the Pound for Pound Challenge, visit her blog post:http://foodshuttle.wordpress.com/2010/02/18/melissas-pound-for-pound-challenge-journey/
To join the challenge and pledge for Inter-Faith Food Shuttle, go to http://www.pfpchallenge.com/.
Inter-Faith Food Shuttle Headquarters 1001 Blair Drive P.O. Box 14638 Raleigh, NC 27620 919.250.0043 www.foodshuttle.org
Inter-Faith Food Shuttle Durham Service Center The Shops at Northgate 1720 Guess Road Suite 14 Durham, NC 27701
# # #
About the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle
The Inter-Faith Food Shuttle is a non-profit organization that provides food for people at risk of hunger in seven counties in the Greater Triangle area. The Food Shuttle works with a network of over 200 partner agencies including soup kitchens, food pantries, shelters, and programs for children, adults and seniors. In 2009, the Food Shuttle recovered and distributed nearly 6 millions pounds of food through these partner agencies and through direct distribution programs. (www.foodshuttle.org). The Inter-Faith Food Shuttle is a non-traditional food bank