MetLife Foundation announces its first-ever 2010 Thanksgiving Charity Program. Foundation will donate $500,000 to selected charities – including the Food Bank: Giants fans and general public encouraged to participate during Thanksgiving week
1 In 5 New Yorkers Relies On The Food Bank To Eat. 93% of Emergency Food Sites in NYC Are Experiencing An Increase In The Number Of Individuals Accessing Emergency Food For The First Time
New York, NY, November 23, 2010 — New York Giants Chris Canty and fellow defensive lineman made a ‘touchdown’ today at Food Bank For New York City’s Community Kitchen of West Harlem to unload a delivery of 100+ turkeys, thousands of pounds of produce and all the Thanksgiving trimmings from a Food Bank 54 ft.-long tractor trailer and serve the dinner meal to 700+ New Yorkers in need.
Food Bank’s Community Kitchen & Pantry of West Harlem served approximately 520,000 meals last year. During the holiday season, the Food Bank will provide more than 27,000 free turkeys and chicken roasters plus all of the traditional trimmings including stuffing, cranberry sauce, potatoes, onions, apples, carrots and more through its emergency food network. Right now, 1.5 million New Yorkers rely on Food Bank’s programs and services, and 93 percent of soup kitchens and food pantries are seeing an increase in first-time visitors.
As the long-term impact of the recession deepens and unemployment continues to devastate New York families, Food Bank is experiencing an unprecedented increase in demand for food and services. Since 2003, there has been a 60 percent increase in the number of people reporting having difficulty affording food, or 3.3 million.
“The New York Giants are deeply concerned about the impact that the economic crisis is having on our communities and most especially, its impact on our children. They’ve seen the Food Bank’s research that reveals that one child in five relies on Food Bank to eat. Those numbers are astounding, “ said Allison Stangeby, Director of Community Relations for the New York Giants. As always, the team is here to help with their time and talents. They hope that by being here today at the Community Kitchen of West Harlem, they can shine a spotlight on the faces of hunger and the critical need to support the Food Bank.”
In the season of giving, MetLife Foundation wants everyone to know about their first-ever 2010 Thanksgiving Charity Program. The Foundation is donating $500,000 to selected charities; Giants fans, Jets fans and general public are encouraged to participate during Thanksgiving week. The program kicked off on November 21 and will run through November 28. Fans and the general public will have an opportunity to actively participate and make a real difference by helping to determine how a special half-million dollar gift will be shared among four charities including Food Bank For New York City.
“In the spirit of Thanksgiving, when Americans gather with family and friends, MetLife Foundation asks the public to join us to support the fine work of these organizations,” said Dennis White, president & CEO of MetLife Foundation. “Not just New York football fans, but anyone can go online to find out how to participate, learn more about the charities and see how they will share the $500,000 donation.”
MetLife is a cornerstone sponsor of the New Meadowlands Stadium, and fans attending the New York Jets games on Sunday November 21st and Thanksgiving Day, and the New York Giants game on Sunday November 28th will be able to vote in person at the game, as they enter the stadium through the MetLife corner called “MetLife Central”.
Results of the voting, ending on the 28th, will be announced on Monday the 29th. The charity getting the most votes will receive $175,000 from MetLife Foundation, the second-highest vote getter will receive $125,000, and the remaining two charities will each receive $100,000, which amounts are subject to change in the event of a tie between any of the charities.
“Thanksgiving at the Food Bank wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without the NY Giants. They are family and as such, a staple of our Food Bank tradition. We are very grateful for their friendship and for helping to bring much needed visibility to the pervasive issue of hunger in New York City, especially in these troubled times. And of course we want to thank our long-standing partner, MetLife Foundation. Their Thanksgiving Charity Program is extraordinary, and we could not do what we do without your ongoing support. I hope everyone will get out and vote!” said Lucy Cabrera, Ph.D., President and CEO of Food Bank For New York City.
This month, Food Bank launched a new broadcast, print and outdoor campaign that introduces the new faces of hunger, a representation of those New Yorkers who are suddenly forced to rely on food pantries and soup kitchens for the first time in their lives.
The message is simple: Don’t Make Me Beg. For more than a million New Yorkers, hunger has become a reality. They can’t afford food for both themselves and their children. They are being forced to choose between paying rent and buying groceries. In fact, one in five New York City residents will rely on Food Bank’s programs and services this holiday season. As the city’s major provider of food and resources for low-income New Yorkers, the Food Bank is asking all New Yorkers to help us help them by participating in Food Bank’s first-ever “Text-to-Donate” campaign. The Food Bank does more than serve meals. We serve the people who need them. Please text FBNYC to 50555 to donate $10 to Food Bank For New York City. Don’t make them beg.
About the Food Bank For New York City
Food Bank For New York City recognizes 27 years as the city’s major hunger-relief organization working to end food poverty throughout the five boroughs. As the city’s hub for integrated food poverty assistance, Food Bank tackles the hunger issue on three fronts — food distribution, income support and nutrition education— all strategically guided by its research. Through its network of approximately 1,000 community-based member programs citywide, Food Bank helps provide 400,000 free meals a day for New Yorkers in need.
Food Bank’s hands-on nutrition education program in the public schools reaches thousands of children, teens and adults. Income support services including food stamps, free tax assistance for the working poor and the Earned Income Tax Credit put millions of dollars back in the pockets of low-income New Yorkers, helping them to achieve greater dignity and independence. Learn how you can help at foodbanknyc.org.