FOOD Share CEO Bonnie Weigel to serve as Grand Marshall at Annual Oxnard Christmas Parade, Dec. 4

PRLog (Press Release) - Nov. 8, 2010 - (Oxnard, Calif.) – Although “Christmas around the World” is the theme of this year’s annual Oxnard Downtown Christmas parade, Food Share, Ventura County’s only regional food bank, is hoping that parade attendees will be inspired to embrace the holiday spirit on the local level and help them spread holiday cheer “around Ventura County.”  

Bonnie Weigel, FOOD Share’s CEO, will serve as this year’s Grand Marshall for the annual downtown parade happening on Dec. 4, at 10 a.m.  “FOOD Share is successful because of the generous volunteers of Ventura County. Our residents, businesses and amazing network of 150 pantry partners help us feed over 61,000 people each month,” Weigel said.

The Wells Fargo stagecoach will make its first appearance at the Oxnard parade presented each year by the Oxnard Downtowners, a non-profit organization dedicated to revitalizing Oxnard’s downtown business district.  Wells Fargo has used the stagecoach as its symbol since the 1850s.  A long-time supporter of FOOD Share, Wells Fargo currently owns and displays 11 of its original stagecoaches in its museums.  

In November and December, FOOD Share hosts its annual “Tackle Holiday Hunger” food drive to help them replenish the shelves of their Oxnard-based distribution center.  The regional food bank then distributes millions of pounds of donated food to Ventura County residents throughout the year via 150 food pantries run by churches, temples, civic organizations and community groups.  Twenty-one of Food Share’s pantry partners are located in the city of Oxnard.  

The annual free-to-the-public parade will feature more than 90 entries including, marching bands, equestrian units, local nonprofits and businesses as well as returning community favorites and special guests.  FOOD Share invites parade attendees to stop by the organization’s booth in Plaza Park immediately following the parade. There will be activities, crafts and information about how to end hunger in Ventura County.

For more information about FOOD Share, or to sign up to host your own neighborhood or business holiday food drive, go to www.foodshare.com or to obtain a barrel to fill in your neighborhood or your business, call FOOD Share at: (805) 983-7100 ext. 135.

About FOOD Share
A major food bank distributing millions of pounds of food each year to those in need throughout Ventura County, FOOD Share collects and receives food year-round, distributing to more than 150 partner agencies throughout Ventura County, including Camarillo, Fillmore, Moorpark, Oak View, Ojai, Oxnard, Santa Paula, Simi Valley, Somis, Thousand Oaks, and Ventura.

FOOD Share provides food to more than 54,700 people each month countywide through its partner agencies and multiple programs. Programs include the Senior Brown Bag, which provides supplemental nutrition to nearly 2,000 low income seniors, and Snack Attack programs that offer healthy nutritious after-school snacks to approximately 2,200 children. Information: (805) 983-7100 or http://www.foodshare.com.

About Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a nationwide, diversified, community-based financial services company with $1.2 trillion in assets. Founded in 1852 and headquartered in San Francisco, Wells Fargo provides banking, insurance, investments, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance through more than 10,000 banking stores, 12,000 ATMs, the Internet (wellsfargo.com and wachovia.com), and other distribution channels across North America and internationally. With more than 278,000 team members, Wells Fargo serves one in three households in America.  Wells Fargo & Company was ranked #19 on Fortune’s 2009 rankings of America’s largest corporations. Wells Fargo’s vision is to satisfy all our customers’ financial needs and help them succeed financially.

# # #

A leader in 5 Pillars of Marketing Success: Advertising, Promotions, Public Relations, Web & Social Media and Creative