The Cupboards Are Bare (NAPSA)—With the downturn in the economy, the nation’s food banks and other non-profits fighting hunger have seen a sharp dropoff in donations—while also experiencing an increase in demand. “In some cases, food banks have been experiencing an increase in demand for months due to the slowing economy,” said Bill Shore, executive director of Share Our Strength, a leading antihungerorganization. In response to the critical need, Share Our Strength and Tyson Foods, Ine., have announced emergency product donations during the holidays. Since beginning their partnership to fight hunger in May 2000, the two organizations have provided more than 38 million meals—totaling over 7.5 million pounds of chicken—to more than 250 emergency food assistance agencies nationwide. According to a national survey released this summer, many food providers receive the greatest demandfrom their clients during the holiday months. However, with the economy in a downward spiral, hunger activists fear a bleak holiday season for the more than 31 million people at risk of hunger in the United States. For information on what you can do during the holidays to combat hunger, visit www.strength.org. For more information on Tyson Foods and the anti-hunger partnership, visit www.Tyson.com. How You Can Make A Difference 1. Send a contributionto notional and local organizations fighting to end hunger. 2. Volunteerat yourlocal food bank or encourage yourfavorite restaurant to donate excess food to an area food rescue program. 3. Pick upextra food and donate it to your local food bank. Share Our Strength’s recent surveyreflects that food banks need meat/poultry donated most. Secondon thelist of items was dairy products, followed by vegetables, non-meatproteins, starches and bakery goods. 4, Supportbusinesses that have committed to Share OurStrength as partners in the fight to end hunger, including Tyson Foods, Inc. 5. Learn more about the issues of hunger and poverty so that you can take action byvisiting www.strength.org. @
