ConAgra Foods Announces Community Effort Exceeded Goal of Raising 1.3 Million Meals to Help Shine the Light on Hunger
OMAHA, Neb., January 20, 2015 /3BL Media/ - ConAgra Foods, Inc., announced today that with the help of the community, this year’s Shine the Light on Hunger campaign surpassed its goal of raising 1.3 million meals to feed the hungry. This year’s campaign, which included a matching grant from ConAgra Foods, raised more than 1.5 million meals through both in-kind and cash donations to Food Bank for the Heartland. In recognition of the community’s accomplishment, ConAgra Foods lit the top of its iconic “food barrel tree” located on the ConAgra Foods campus at the corner of 10th and Farnam Streets.
“Thanks to the generosity of the community, we’re able to make an even bigger difference than we had planned for those who wonder where their next meal will come from or whether they’ll even be getting a meal,” said Chris Kircher, vice president of corporate affairs and president of the ConAgra Foods Foundation. “ConAgra Foods would like to thank everyone – individuals, businesses and non- profits – who came together to make this year’s Shine the Light on Hunger campaign such a success.”
The focal point of the Shine the Light on Hunger campaign was the ConAgra Foods ice skating rink. More than 16,000 skaters took to the ice this year, raising funds for the campaign through admission and concession sales. The ConAgra Foods Foundation matched donations to Food Bank for the Heartland dollar-for-dollar up to $100,000. Each dollar raised equates to three meals for those in need. In addition, community members donated more than 64,631 pounds of food to Food Bank for the Heartland. When combined with donations from other community efforts, these results equaled 1,577,501 meals, far exceeding this year’s campaign goal.
“The 1.5 million meals raised by the community truly makes a big difference and couldn’t come at a better time,” said Susan Ogborn, president and CEO of Food Bank for the Heartland. “During this challenging economic time, the need in our community is greater than ever. We are so grateful for this support and the commitment it shows to eliminating hunger in Nebraska and Iowa.”
Omaha’s nonprofit organization, Food Bank for the Heartland, distributed 15.5 million pounds of food and household products to families in Nebraska and Southwest Iowa this year. Food Bank for the Heartland works with 225 agencies to benefit those in need. Today, more than 88,000 children in the 93 counties served by Food Bank for the Heartland struggle, according to Feeding America’s Map the Meal Gap: Child Food Insecurity 2012. Douglas County has the most children at risk for hunger (26,110) followed by Sarpy County (7,920) in Nebraska, and Woodbury County (5,890) in Iowa.
About ConAgra Foods
ConAgra Foods, Inc., (NYSE: CAG), is one of North America's largest packaged food companies with branded and private branded food found in 99 percent of America’s households, as well as a strong commercial foods business serving restaurants and foodservice operations globally. Consumers can find recognized brands such as Banquet, Chef Boyardee, Egg Beaters, Healthy Choice, Hebrew National, Hunt’s, Marie Callender’s, Orville Redenbacher’s, PAM, Peter Pan, Reddi-wip, Slim Jim, Snack Pack and many other ConAgra Foods brands, along with food sold by ConAgra Foods under private brands labels, in grocery, convenience, mass merchandise, club and drug stores. Additionally, ConAgra Foods supplies frozen potato and sweet potato products as well as other vegetable, spice, bakery and grain products to commercial and foodservice customers. ConAgra Foods operates ReadySetEat.com, an interactive recipe website that provides consumers with easy dinner recipes and more. For more information, please visit us at www.conagrafoods.com.
