Silver Spring, Maryland—March 24, 2010—25,000 pounds. That’s the weight of two 2010 Ford Expeditions. Or the volume of milk a highly productive dairy cow will produce in one year. (Wow.) It’s also the collection goal for a food drive starting today to benefit the Capital Area Food Bank in Washington, DC.
Thirty-four organizations in Maryland, DC, and Virginia have vowed to collect 25,000 pounds of food in the 8th Annual .org Food Drive sponsored by DelCor Technology Solutions, an association and nonprofit technology consulting firm in Silver Spring, MD. All of the participating organizations are part of or directly serve the association and nonprofit community.
“It’s an ambitious goal to collect 25,000 pounds of food in three weeks,” remarked DelCor CEO Loretta M. DeLuca, “but it’s our responsibility and privilege as members of this community for more than 25 years. We are up for the challenge, because we’re supported by so many committed organizations.”
In February, the Capital Area Food Bank and Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization, released a study demonstrating that hunger in the metropolitan region has increased dramatically since 2006. The number of people served by the food bank has risen 25 percent in that time. Today, through its network of 700 nonprofit partners throughout the region, the food bank serves 10 percent of the metro population.
“Our goal represents a 55 percent increase over collection totals last year and is directly linked to the increased demand for food bank services,” said DeLuca.
“The recent hunger study confirmed what the food bank and our nonprofit partner agencies have witnessed for years – more residents struggling with hunger. We are seeing record numbers of families and individuals in need,” said Lynn Brantley, President and CEO of the Capital Area Food Bank. “DelCor has been an ardent supporter of the food bank and their assistance comes at a critical time. Community partners like DelCor help us nourish our neighbors in need and continue to meet increased demand.”
Added DeLuca, “The people who make up associations and nonprofits are inherently committed to community. As a company fully embedded in that community, we are humbled by the need right here in our neighborhood, and we are honored to partner with these organizations in order to give back to our community through this annual event. As the need increases, so do our efforts.”
The DelCor 8th Annual .org Food Drive benefiting the Capital Area Food Bank kicked off today and runs through April 13.
Participating organizations:
Aerospace Industries Association
American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases
American Geophysical Union
American Health Lawyers Association
ASAE & The Center
Association of Fundraising Professionals
Association for Manufacturing Technology
Avectra
Bar-T
Bates Creative Group
The Coulter Companies
Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards
DSK Solutions
DelCor Technology Solutions (sponsor)
Equipment Leasing & Finance Association
Independent Community Bankers of America
Infectious Diseases Society of America
International Association of Movers
LarsonAllen
Licensing Executives Society
Matrix Group International
McKinley Marketing
National Association of Counties
National Association of Wholesalers-Distributors
Novick Group
Optical Society of America
Rebuilding Together
Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation
Reinsurance Association of America
Summit Foundation
Summit Marketing
Syscom Services
Tate & Tryon
TMA Resources
The Capital Area Food Bank, a member of Feeding America, is the Washington, D.C. metro area’s largest public, nonprofit food and nutrition education resource - serving over 478,000 people through 700 nonprofit partner agencies. The CAFB takes a comprehensive approach to addressing hunger by increasing access to nutritious food; promoting social justice through advocacy; and creating sustainability with outreach and training for those at risk of hunger. The Capital Area Food Bank has served the National Capital Region over 30 years. For more information, visit CapitalAreaFoodBank.org.