FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEJan 17, 2012—RALEIGH, NC
Innovative Partnership Reaches Milestone of 6.7 Million Miles Traveled and Nearly 176 Million Meals Delivered Nationwide
Raleigh, NC (January 17, 2012) – Inter-Faith Food Shuttle is receiving a new refrigerated truck filled with food as part of an unique, 12-year ”Partnership for Hunger Relief” among Ford Motor Company, Newman’s Own, Inc. and Feeding America. The partnership began when the late Paul Newman wrote Bill Ford, Jr., then the CEO of Ford Motor Company, to suggest a new initiative focused on providing fresh produce and other perishables to individuals facing hunger in rural America. They put this idea into action by donating refrigerated Ford trucks filled with an assortment of Newman’s Own products to Feeding America.
As the partnership celebrates its 12th anniversary, Ford is donating another five trucks, including a truck to Inter-Faith Food Shuttle. The new refrigerated truck will be used to deliver food throughout the Triangle to people who are at risk of hunger. Today, 14.8% of all North Carolinians face food insecurity, fifth highest in the nation. “Right here in the Triangle, one in five children is hungry. What is even more heartbreaking, for children under the age of five years old the number jumps to one in four,” said Jill Staton Bullard, Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle. “We believe hunger is unacceptable. Inter-Faith Food Shuttle pioneers innovative, transformative solutions designed to end hunger in our community. We are thrilled Newman’s Own and Ford Motor Company are partnering with us! This new truck will help us provide healthy nutritious food to more children, families and seniors throughout the Triangle. Thank you!” Today, the new truck makes its first delivery of healthy, nutritious fresh food to Inter-Faith Food Shuttle’s Wake Forest Mobile Market. This free mobile market serves more than 260 hungry individuals and families facing food insecurity each month. Inter-Faith Food Shuttle hosts more than 30 Mobile Markets each month in our seven county service area. The donation of the new truck by Newman’s Own and Ford Motor Company will make it possible to expand IFFS’ Mobile Markets in the Triangle.
A total of 103 vehicles in all 50 states have been donated since the partnership began in 2000. The donated trucks have traveled a combined total of more than 6.7 million miles and have distributed over 169 million pounds of food, the equivalent of 176 million meals, to hard to reach areas. The refrigerated trucks allow delivery of fresh and nutritious food to hard to reach communities that are often underserved. Donated produce, meat and dairy products cannot be delivered to remote areas unless refrigerated trucks are available for long delivery routes. "Ford Motor Company has remained committed to playing a role in addressing hunger relief year after year,” said Jim Vella, president, Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services. “Through this unique partnership, our donated trucks have delivered more than 176 million meals to families across the country.” "More than 12 years ago Paul Newman realized there was a great need to get nutritious food more broadly distributed. With 49 million people facing hunger, we are glad this program continues to help make a difference, especially in the current economic environment,” said Tom Indoe, president and chief operating officer of Newman’s Own, Inc. Other food banks receiving trucks are: Atlanta Community Food Bank (Atlanta, GA), Dare to Care Food Bank (Louisville, KY), Harry Chapin Food Bank of South Florida (Fort Myers, FL), and Josephine County Food Bank (Grants Pass, OR). Feeding America® is the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization, providing food to people in rural, urban and suburban communities. Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 166,000 employees and about 70 plants worldwide, the company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford’s products, please visit www.ford.com. Based in Westport, CT, the charitable mission of Newman’s Own is expressed in its Company motto: “Shameless exploitation in pursuit of the Common Good.” The Newman’s Own Foundation continues Paul Newman’s commitment to donate all after tax net profits from its products and related royalties for educational and charitable purposes.
ABOUT INTER-FAITH FOOD SHUTTLE Inter-Faith Food Shuttle pioneers innovative, transformative solutions designed to end hunger in our community. Inter-Faith Food Shuttle is a non-traditional food bank of Feeding America and a United Way Agency of Excellence. Inter-Faith Food Shuttle is North Carolina’s Share Our Strength partner agency. Visit. Be part of the solution, hold a food drive, volunteer, and donate. To help end hunger in our community, go to www.foodshuttle.org or call 919.250.0043.
For more information contact: Jill Staton Bullard (919) 250-0043 Jill@FoodShuttle.org