Benefiting

Local Businesses Fight Hunger

Portland & Salem Area Businesses Gang Up to Fight Hunger in Oregon

Portland-Salem Metro, Oregon November 21, 2008 -- Today through Friday, December 12th, the 8th Annual Great Holiday Food Drive will be raising food and awareness for the hungry here in the Portland-Salem Metropolitan Areas with all donations benefiting Oregon Food Bank and Marion Polk Food Share.

According to Oregon Food Bank website, statistics show that from 2004 - 2006, 11.4% of Oregon's population struggled with putting food on the table. As well, some major food banks here in Oregon, such as the Marion-Polk Food Share, saw bare shelves at one point last year.

Last year with help and support from the Portland & Salem communities, the Great Holiday Food Drive raised the equivalent of 11,739 lbs of food for the hungry here in the Portland-Salem Metro area of Oregon. That was an increase of 10% in donations over prior year totals! Our goal this year is to increase donations by another 10% and raise over 12,915 lbs!

The food banks are always short on food during the holiday season regardless of economic situations and hardships. However, due to some of the toughest financial times our country has seen in decades, food shortages are at epidemic proportions.

You can help this Holiday Season by donating canned food and non-perishable items to feed the needy and raise awareness for the Oregon Food Bank Network and the Marion Polk Food Share. There are just under 30 Donation Drop Site Locations throughout the Portland-Salem Metro Area ready to receive food drive donations.

The donation drop sites are various participating businesses around the metro areas. The variety of businesses and various locations participating in this event will make it easy for anyone throughout the Portland-Salem Metro area to help fight the war against hunger.

Donations may consist of non-perishable foods as well as monetary donations in the form of a check made payable to Oregon Food Bank. The food drive will run for three weeks and end on December 12th so as to get the donations to the local food banks prior to Christmas.

Thanks go to the following Co-Sponsors of this year's event:

- America's Best Contacts & Eyeglasses
- Arbor Custom Homes
- Beaver Creek Armory
- Curves Wilsonville
- Deschutes Brewery
- Easy Street Online Services
- KinderCare
- Meridian Park Radiation Oncology Center
- ON Semiconductor
- Oregon Community Credit Union
- Park Ave Village
- Rain Salon
- The Little Gym of Beaverton
- The Little Gym of Lake Oswego

To learn how you can get involved or make a donation online or at an Official Donation Drop Site, please go to http://www.food-drive.com or call (503) 656-3875.