PODS® of Portland helps Oregon Food Bank stock up for the holidays and beyond, Nov. 5 – Dec. 31

Nov. 12, 2012 - PRLog -- (PORTLAND) – As the economy still wavers, the need for healthy food is at record levels. For the sixth year in a row in an effort to help feed the needy, PODS of Portland a moving and storage company, has once again teamed up with Jiffy Lube and Oregon Food Bank to lend the visibility and logistics of their safe and secure PODS® containers during Jiffy Lube’s “Fill the Bag” food drive. The food drive runs Nov. 5 – Dec. 31.

“This is the ninth year that Jiffy Lube has partnered with Oregon Food Bank and local pantries to help those struggling with food insecurity in our community,” said Janice Jack, Jiffy Lube “Fill the Bag” food drive organizer. “Our 41 locations in Portland, Vancouver and Salem areas make it convenient for people to make a food donation, even just a few cans, to help those in need. I feel that people really do want to help, they just need a convenient place to donate food and that's where Jiffy Lube can help.”

During the food drive, PODS of Portland has donated an unprecedented 43 PODS® containers at Portland and Salem, Oregon and southwest Washington Jiffy Lube locations. PODS is supporting this effort by donating $20,000 worth of moving and storage services. Once the drive is complete, PODS will transport and deliver the donations to the food bank at the beginning of 2013. This logistic and transportation gift allows Oregon Food Bank to save cash on staffing, gasoline and wear and tear on their own trucks during the massive drive, precious savings that can go towards future food purchases. Nonperishable, packaged food items needed during the drive include: canned vegetables, beans, fruit, soup, tuna, chicken, fruit juice, pasta, rice and peanut butter, as well as hot and cold cereals.

“Over the past six years, we averaged more than 55,000 pounds of food per year and the demand for food this year is even higher,” said Darryl Wright, general manager of PODS of Portland. “To have the public come together and donate a canned good is a great step in helping end hunger in the community. We are honored to be providing our moving and storage logistics to helping feed as many mouths as possible so that the community is well-fed during the holiday season.”

The Oregon Food Bank network distributes emergency food boxes to more than 270,000 Oregonians every month. Thirty-three percent of those receiving emergency food are children.

“We know we can only meet the staggering need for emergency food with the help of the entire community and through strong public-private partnerships,” said Janeen Wadsworth, interim CEO of Oregon Food Bank. “We ask for your continued support as we work to eliminate hunger and its root causes.

“We thank PODS of Portland and Jiffy Lube for making this possible!” said Maryann Brunner, partner events coordinator of Oregon Food Bank.

For more information about PODS of Portland and the charities it supports, visit: http://www.pods.com/portland-oregon-community.aspx

About PODS Enterprises, Inc.

Founded in 1998, PODS currently provides moving and storage services to a population of more than 250,000,000 million consumers and businesses, in 48 U.S. states, Canada, Australia and the U.K., through its company-owned and independent franchise network. To date, the PODS network has completed more than 400,000 long-distance relocations, exceeded 2,000,000 million deliveries and has over 145,000 PODS® containers in service.

PODS® secure containers are constructed of a steel frame and are available in three sizes: approximately 7-by-7-by-8 feet, 12-by-8-by-8 feet and 16-by-8-by-8 feet. The 12-foot and 16-foot containers have been tested to withstand winds of more than 110-mph when partially loaded. Newer PODS® containers have the same steel frame construction but are completely recyclable panels made of steel skins and a high-density polyethylene core. For more information or to schedule service, visit PODS.com or call 800-776-7637.

About Jiffy Lube

Jiffy Lube International Inc. (“Jiffy Lube”), with more than 2,000 franchised service centers in North America, serves approximately 21 million customers each year. Jiffy Lube pioneered the fast oil change industry in 1979 by establishing the first drive-through service bay, providing customers with fast, professional service for their vehicles. Headquartered in Houston, Jiffy Lube is a wholly owned, indirect subsidiary of Shell Oil Company. Visit www.JiffyLube.com to learn more about Jiffy Lube and vehicle care.

About Oregon Food Bank

The Oregon Food Bank Network is a cooperative, statewide coalition of 20 regional food banks, working to eliminate hunger and its root causes. Oregon Food Bank is the statewide hub of the Network, distributing donated food from a variety of sources to 16 independent regional food banks and four OFB branches. They, in turn, distribute the food to 945 agencies and programs serving low-income people in their communities.