Ford, Newman’s Own partner to fight hunger
For the 10th consecutive year, Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) and Newman’s Own Inc are teaming with hunger relief organization Feeding America to provide Ford refrigerated trucks loaded with Newman’s Own food products to communities in need nationwide.
This “Partnership for Hunger Relief” began when actor Paul Newman reached out to Bill Ford, then chairman and chief executive officer of Ford Motor Co, in an effort to improve distribution of produce and other perishable food to those facing hunger in rural America.
With the recent donations of nine more vehicles, the fleet of 98 refrigerated Ford trucks and vans now reaches into all 50 states. For the past 10 years, Ford Motor Co and Newsman’s Own have partnered to donate vehicles filled with food products provided from Newman’s Own to food banks affiliated with Feeding America.
“Through this unique partnership, Ford Motor Company has remained committed to playing a role in addressing hunger relief throughout good and bad economic times,” said Bill Ford, executive chairman, Ford Motor Co. “To date, our donated trucks have delivered more than 130 million meals to families across the country.”
The refrigerated trucks allow for delivery of fresh and nutritious food to hard-to-reach communities that often are underserved. Donated produce, meat, and dairy products cannot be delivered to remote areas unless refrigerated trucks are available for long delivery routes.
Food banks recently receiving trucks are Food Bank of Alaska in Anchorage AK, Kenai Peninsula Food Bank in Soldotna AK, Food Bank of Delaware in Newark DE, Idaho Food Bank in Boise ID, Food Bank of Siouxland in Sioux City IA, Food Bank of South Jersey in Pennsauken NJ, Food Bank of Northern Nevada in McCarran NV, Rhode Island Community Food Bank in Providence RI, and Utah Food Bank in Salt Lake City UT.
Vicki Escarra, president and CEO of Feeding America, said, “Feeding America provided food and grocery products to more than 37 million Americans last year, an increase of nearly 50% in the past four years. We would not have been able to meet this huge increase in need without the generous support of corporations like Newman’s Own and the Ford Motor Company.”
Visit www.ford.com or www.newmansown.com for more information.