High Schools Invited to Join "Shire's Great Food Fight! Benefitting Philabundance" to Combat Region's Critical Food Shortage

PHILADELPHIA --(Business Wire)--

High schools throughout Southeastern Pennsylvania are invited to participate in "Shire's Great Food Fight! Benefitting Philabundance" and help the growing number of food-insecure families who turn to Philabundance for assistance.

Although it distributes more pounds of food each month, Philabundance expects demand to continue to increase. By collecting food during February and March, "Shire's Great Food Fight!" comes at a time when the Philabundance inventory is typically low after holiday food drive donations have been distributed. The Shire-sponsored regional high school food drive will provide a much needed boost of non-perishable foods to those in need.

Participating schools will compete for seven prizes of $10,000, $5,000 or $1,000 while joining forces to achieve an ambitious goal: to collect 100 tons of food - the equivalent of 200,000 meals - for Philabundance over a two-week period.

Registration is now open for this region-wide food drive. High school students, parents and faculty members are invited to participate in an informational conference call at 3 p.m. on November 15 by calling 866-430-1250 and entering the participant code 14240683#.

In 2012, the second year of "Shire's Great Food Fight! Benefitting Philabundance," 21 schools collected 71 tons of food over the two-week competition - making it one of the most successful efforts ever to raise food in the Greater Philadelphia region.

"Hunger is not limited to those living in poverty; we're seeing more and more middle class families coming to us and our partner agencies for help," said Philabundance President and Executive Director Bill Clark. "The participation of students and teachersis more important than ever. Together, we can make sure that no one goes to school or to bed with an empty stomach."

Shire will award seven prizes totalling $20,000: $10,000 to the school that raises the most food as measured in pounds, $5,000 for the school that collects the most food in pounds per student and $1,000 to the school in each of the five Southeastern Pennsylvania counties that collects the most food in pounds. The eligible counties in "Shire's Great Food Fight! Benefitting Philabundance" are Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia.

The deadline for high schools to register for "Shire's Great Food Fight! Benefitting Philabundance" is December 15, 2012. The collection drive runs February 25 - March 8, 2013. For more information visit http://www.philabundance.org/thegreatfoodfight.

Notes to Editors

About Hunger in the Delaware Valley

According to the Census Bureau, in 2009 the number of people living in poverty rose in the double digits from the region's poorest county, Philadelphia (11.3 percent) to the most affluent county, Chester (10.7 percent). Today, 900,000 are at risk of hunger in the Delaware Valley. At the same time, Philabundance agencies have seen a 66 percent increase in the need for food.

Philabundance

Philabundance reduces hunger and food insecurity in the Delaware Valley by providing food access to people in need in partnership with organizations and individuals. Philabundance provides a full plate of services through neighborhood distribution programs and a network of close to 500 member agencies in 9 counties. Philabundance serves approximately 65,000 people per week at a cost of 50 cents per meal. There are more than 900,000 people in the Delaware Valley who are at risk for chronic hunger and malnutrition. In 2011, Philabundance distributed 21 million pounds of food. For more information about Philabundance, visit www.philabundance.org or call 215-339-0900. Visit us on Facebook (News - Alert), Facebook.com/Philabundance and follow us on Twitter, Twitter.com/Philabundance. If you or someone you know is in need of food assistance, please call Philabundance's Food Help Line, 800-319-Food (3663).

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