Wells Fargo & Company has launched its third annual Holiday Food Bank program to help provide food to people and families in need during the holiday season. Wells Fargo launched the program with a donation of up to $5 million to Feeding America® through direct donations and charitable matching. Feeding America is the largest domestic hunger-relief organization in the U.S. with 200 member food banks across the U.S. The organization estimates that, with every $1 contribution providing at least 10 meals, Wells Fargo will help provide more than 50 million meals for people in need.
On a local level, Inter-Faith Food Shuttle is one of those Feeding America member food banks, and will be supported by the Wells Fargo Holiday program through a $25,000 matching campaign on donations made online and at Wells Fargo ATMs. In addition, non-perishable food donations made at local Wells Fargo bank branch locations will be turned over to Inter-Faith Food Shuttle for distribution through our various hunger relief programs. Online donations can be made at www.feedingamerica.org/wellsfargo.
“The holidays should be a time of joy, yet the stress of stretching a paycheck to cover additional expenses can feel overwhelming,” said Brandee McHale, president of the Wells Fargo Foundation. “Many Americans are struggling with the cost burden of housing, which often contributes to making tradeoffs, such as not having enough food. Wells Fargo’s Holiday Food Bank program is meant to show the power of community spirit, in which we look out for our neighbors by bringing team members, customers and partners like Feeding America together to stock the shelves of community food banks all around the U.S.”
Building upon the success of last year’s Holiday Food Bank program, which helped to provide more than 55 million meals, Wells Fargo encourages customers, team members and community members to join in this year’s effort to help make more meals possible during the holidays.
Through Dec. 31, people can join this effort by:
Donating non-perishable goods at one of 5,300 Wells Fargo branch bank locations.
Making a monetary donation to a local Feeding America member food bank through a Wells Fargo ATM, online or by texting MEALS to 91990.
Volunteering time at a local food bank.
“The holiday season is a critical time for the Feeding America network to rally their communities to help the 37 million people who struggle to put food on their tables,” said Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, CEO of Feeding America. “We are grateful to Wells Fargo for its commitment to helping children and families who face hunger and we encourage everyone to support their neighbors in need through the Wells Fargo Holiday Food Bank program. This effort will help food banks provide more meals to people who need them most.”
During last year’s Holiday Food Bank program, Wells Fargo team members volunteered more than 9,000 hours at local food banks and expect to increase that support this year through a dedicated effort called “Food Bank Fridays.” Team members in major markets around the U.S. will volunteer at their local Feeding America member food bank and support the program’s goal of making more meals possible this holiday season.