Plant a Row for the Hungry -- Campaign Kick-Off Event at Logan's Trading Company

EVERY GARDENER CAN HELP FEED OUR NEIGHBORS FACING FOOD INSECURITY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Mar 02, 2011—RALEIGH, NC

Logan Trading Company, in partnership with the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle, is gearing up for its 3rd annual Plant a Row for the Hungry (PAR) kick-off to encourage all gardeners to grow a little extra produce to donate to the hungry and homeless. The kick-off event will be on Saturday, March 12th, from 11am to 5:30pm at Logan Trading Company, 707 Semart Drive, in downtown Raleigh. It will include activities for children, talks on growing and harvesting fruits and vegetables, and special give-aways.

PLANT A ROW FOR THE HUNGRY

Plant a Row for the Hungry (PAR) is a national campaign begun by the Garden Writers Association in 1995 that encourages garden communities and individuals to donate fresh vegetables, fruit, herbs and flowers to people in need. Inter-Faith Food Shuttle is the Triangle's PAR partner, distributing your produce to local food pantries, shelters, and other hunger-relief organizations.

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

Food donations can be brought to Logan's during normal business hours, and donations of seeds, gently used tools, canned and dried foods are always welcome.

Last year, the Logan's community donated 6,454 lbs. to the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle. This year, Logan's goal is to get to 10,000 lbs!

"A fruit or vegetable, like tomato or spinach, a day is out of reach for more than 50 million Americans," commented Jill Staton Bullard, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Inter-Faith Food Shuttle. "For more than 21 years we've been providing healthy, nutritious food to our neighbors who are food insecure. Our Plant-A-Row partnership with Logan's helps gather fresh produce and share with our neighbors who do not have access to healthy, affordable food in our community."

"It may be hard to imagine, but the face of hunger in the Triangle isn't just homeless people in our downtowns: It is the face of an elderly neighbor choosing between food and medication. It is the working parent who earns too much to qualify for food stamps so she goes without in order to feed her children. It is the middle class family dealing with job loss and relying on the local food pantry for donations," said Leslie Logan, general manager. "Everyone can do something to help alleviate hunger in our community. Donating as little as one pound of fresh produce ? a few tomatoes or a couple of squash ? can supplement up to four meals for a person in need."

Logan's is a local, independent, family-owned garden center dedicated to fostering happy, healthy and beautiful communities.

Obesity & Hunger Affect Same Population; Learn More From the Triangle Experts

Low-income and food insecure people are especially vulnerable to obesity due to the additional risk factors associated with poverty. Part of the Triangle's long-term solution to hunger is Inter-Faith Food Shuttle's Cooking Matters program.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Mar 01, 2011—RALEIGH, NC

"While all segments of the population are affected by obesity, low-income and food insecure people are especially vulnerable due to the additional risk factors associated with poverty, " commented Katherine Andrew, Director of Nutrition, Farm and Gardens for Inter-Faith Food Shuttle. "Today, with close to 15% of all North Carolinians facing food insecurity, we are fifth highest in the nation, and approximately two-thirds of adults in our state are overweight or obese. "

Cooking Matters allows Inter-Faith Food Shuttle to provide a long-term solution to hunger by empowering participants to make educated choices about how to grow, cook, and eat the best food possible. Inter-Faith Food Shuttle is Share Our Strength's North Carolina Presenting Partner for "Cooking Matters" and "Shopping Matters".

"Providing nutritious food is our top priority! Our goal is to give people the confidence and ability to be more self-sufficient and improve their eating habits and food budgeting skills, " said Jill Staton Bullard, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Inter-Faith Food Shuttle. "For more than 21 years we've been providing healthy, nutritious food to our neighbors who are food insecure. Our partnership with Share Our Strength helps us to empower these families at risk of hunger with the skills and confidence to make healthy and affordable meals from the food we provide. "

THE PROBLEM - Did you realize?

• An apple a day is out of reach for more than 50 million Americans. [1]
• In 2009, North Carolina ranked 11th in the nation for childhood obesity at 18.6%[2] and 10th in the nation for adult obesity with nearly two-thirds (65.7%) of adults being overweight OR obese[3]
• More than 14.7 percent of American households do not have access at times to nutritious foods. [4]
• At 20.3% in 2009, North Carolina ranks second in the nation for the highest food insecurity rate for children under age 5. [5]
• There are more than 111,000 children at risk of hunger here in the Triangle. This is just the number of children on free and reduced lunch and not even fully representative of all of the children who are food insecure.

WORKING TOWARD SOLUTIONS

Inter-Faith Food Shuttle is one of 26 partners nationally implementing the Cooking Matters program through Share Our Strength. Cooking Matters in a nutrition based culinary program focused on teaching low income community members how to shop for, prepare, and eat nutritious foods on a budget. Cooking Matters classes run for 6-weeks, and are taught by volunteer chefs and nutrition instructors. Inter-Faith Food Shuttle also incorporates a gardening component into our Cooking Matters classes, helping participants learn where their food comes from and how to grow good food of their own.

Cooking Matters classes and curriculum are offered to kids, youth, adults, families, young parents, and child care providers. There are addendums to the adult curriculum for people living with Diabetes and for people living with HIV/AIDS. Inter-Faith Food Shuttle is currently partnering with North Carolina State University's Nutrition Department in Wake County and with the Community Nutrition Partnership in Orange County to spread the reach of Cooking Matters classes across the state.

TRIANGLE COOKING MATTERS 2010/2011 HIGHLIGHTS

• Reached 385 participants (225 kids/teens; 115 adults), and graduated 301 (214 kids/teen; 95 adults) in 2010.
• Increased Cooking Matters courses from 28 classes in 2009 to 39 classes in 2010, and projecting 42 classes for 2011.
• Prepared over 450 healthy recipes with participants in 2010.
• Engaged 144 professional volunteer instructors who gave over 500 volunteer hours in 2010.
• Walmart donated a truck to Inter-Faith Food Shuttle and awarded Share Our Strength a $1.5 million grant to fund the expansion of the "Cooking Matters" program and launch of the "Shopping Matters" nutrition education programs.

March is National Nutrition Month®. National Nutrition Month® is an education and information campaign sponsored annually by the American Dietetic Association.

Impact of Michelle Obama's "Let's Move" Campaign and Walmart Announcement in North Carolina

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Jan 20, 2011—RALEIGH, NC

"We celebrate today's announcement and the First Lady's commitment, " said Jill Staton Bullard, co-founder and executive director of the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle. "We have been providing healthy food for people who don't have access for 21 years and celebrate our partners in their efforts. " The Inter-Faith Food Shuttle (IFFS) has been increasing access to healthy, fresh produce for low-income community members for 21 years. Inter-Faith Food Shuttle pioneers innovative, transformative solutions designed to end hunger in our community. IFFS has partnered with Share Our Strength to run Cooking Matters classes in the Triangle since 2008.

In 2010, Walmart donated a truck to Inter-Faith Food Shuttle and awarded Share Our Strength a $1.5 million grant to fund the expansion of the "Cooking Matters" program and launch of the "Shopping Matters" nutrition education programs. Inter-Faith Food Shuttle is Share Our Strengths' North Carolina Presenting Partner for "Cooking Matters" and "Shopping Matters".
Cooking Matters allows Inter-Faith Food Shuttle to provide a long-term solution to hunger by empowering participants to make educated choices about how to grow, cook, and eat the best food possible. Our goal is to give people the confidence and ability to be more self-sufficient and improve their eating habits and food budgeting skills. Inter-Faith Food Shuttle's 2010 Impact

• Rescued more than 6.5 million pounds of food (8% increase over last year) from more than 300 donors using a fleet of 13 refrigerated vehicles
• Delivered food to 212 programs & agencies in 7 counties
• Distributed 30,610 backpacks filled with 183,660 nutritious weekend meals to children at 31 sites
• Provided 21,449 grocery bags (more than 425 per week) to low-income seniors and families
• Graduated 25 life-challenged adults from our Culinary Job Training Program
• Produced more than 15,000 pounds of fresh, organic produce on our local Raleigh farm
• Expanded our community gardens into 4 communities and 1 school engaging 1,374 participants and 320 volunteers
• Held 39 six-week nutrition education classes with 357 participants, using Cooking Matters from Share Our Strength
• Utilized 43, 383 volunteer hours (worth $904,535.55) to benefit our community

Specifically, IFFS' Cooking Matters:

• Served 365 families
• Ran 39 Cooking Matters classes with adults, teens, children.
• Prepared over 450 healthy recipes with participants.
• Engaged 144 professional volunteer instructors who gave over 500 volunteer hours.

About Inter-Faith Food Shuttle

Inter-Faith Food Shuttle pioneers innovative, transformative solutions designed to end hunger in our community.