RAI Donates Equivalent of 180,000 Pounds of Food to Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NC

Source from:  DBusinessNews.com 08/07/2009

Reynolds American Inc. (RAI) and employees of both RAI and its R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company subsidiary have donated the equivalent of 180,000 pounds of food to Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina. This was the largest food drive ever held by one company or organization in the history of the local food bank.　RAI and R.J. Reynolds employees collected more than 31,000 pounds of food in six days, which was supplemented by a $10,000 cash donation from RAI and a $6,000 "challenge" donation from R.J. Reynolds ($1,000 for every 5,000 pounds of food donated by employees), and some cash contributions from employees.　Together, the groceries and cash donations will provide Second Harvest Food Bank with 180,000 pounds of food for needy families. The employee food drive, which was held as part of Reynolds American's 2009 United Way campaign activities, was designed to meet an all-time high demand for food among people in need, and to raise awareness of the services provided by Second Harvest Food Bank and other local United Way agencies. "Difficult economic conditions have created a shortfall between the resources needed in our community and the resources available," said Susan M. Ivey, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Reynolds American.　"Our employees wanted to help bridge the gap created by a demand for food that is far exceeding the supply of donated food this year.　We're proud of how quickly our employees stepped up to help fill empty shelves at the food bank and feed the hungry." "Second Harvest Food Bank is grateful for this generous support of our programs," said Clyde Fitzgerald, the executive director of the food bank.　"Reynolds American and R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company employees have long taken a leadership role in addressing critical community needs.　Although food donations have increased over one million pounds in the past year, the sustained 76 percent increase in demand has totally outstripped supply. Today, 250,000 people in our 18-county service area, including more than 80,000 children, cannot say for sure where their next meal is coming from.　The Reynolds donation will help ensure that children and their parents who have run out of food due to grave financial circumstances will be fed." Reynolds American and its employees have historically been one of the largest contributors to the United Way of Forsyth County's annual fundraising campaign, according to Ron J. Drago, president of the United Way of Forsyth County. About Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NC Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina is a member of Feeding America. It is the major distributor of donated food and grocery products in the region, collecting and distributing products to more than 400 nonprofit partner agencies that annually feed thousands of people in need throughout 18 counties (Alamance, Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Caldwell, Caswell, Davie, Davidson, Forsyth, Guilford, Iredell, Randolph, Rockingham, Stokes, Surry, Watauga, Wilkes and Yadkin). Since opening in 1982, Second Harvest Food Bank has distributed more than 100 million pounds of food and grocery products. Second Harvest Food Bank receives donations from national donors through Feeding America (formerly America's Second Harvest); local food manufacturers and distributors; local grocery stores, caterers and restaurants; USDA commodity programs; a State Nutrition Assistance Program grant, and community food drives. It is also a member of United Way of Forsyth County. About Feeding America (Formerly America's Second Harvest-The Nation's Food Bank Network) Feeding America is the largest charitable domestic hunger-relief organization in the United States. Through its network of more than 200 member food banks, Feeding America 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, Feeding America secures and distributes more than 2 billion pounds of food and grocery products to support feeding programs at approximately 63,000 local charitable agencies, including food pantries, soup kitchens, emergency shelters, after-school programs, and Kids Cafes. To learn more, please visit www.feedingamerica.org. Enditem