Panera Bread Receives Nomination From Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes

Nov. 15, 2010 - PRLog -- Panera Bread, in Kalamazoo and Portage, were honored as Beacon of Light award winners during the Food Bank Council’s Hunger-Free Michigan Awards on Nov. 10. The honor was awarded during the Michigan Harvest Gathering Celebration Luncheon in East Lansing.

The Beacon of Light awards are given to emergency food agencies, donors, volunteers, community leaders or organizations that embody the mission of “providing hope, help and security to hungry people in Michigan.”

“We are honored to be a continuous partner with Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes and the great work they do in the community,” said Brian Campbell, marketing director for Panera Bread.  “Supporting our community organizations is something that we take a lot of pride in and are always pleased when we see the positive changes happening all around us.”

Beacon of Light recipient agencies are nominated by the regional food banks who serve them. Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes nominated Panera Bread for this award.

“Panera Bread has been an incredible partner in our effort to get food in the hands of hungry people in Kalamazoo County,” said Anne Lipsey, Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes executive director. “They not only provide operational support – more than $50,000 in the past 7 years - but are also the primary sponsor of the annual Empty Bowls Project, which helps highlight childhood hunger in our community. We thank them for their service and support of our mission.”

About Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes
For over 28 years, Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes has been the main charitable source of emergency food assistance for hungry individuals and families in Kalamazoo County.
Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes collects, procures and distributes food, as well as provides direct service through various programs. For more information, please visit www.kzoolf.org.

About Food Bank Council of Michigan
FBCM is a statewide organization committed to the alleviation of hunger in Michigan and around the nation. Serving as a statewide leadership for food banks, FBCM provides a central, single voice to the issue of hunger. For information about the Michigan Harvest Gathering, including information about how and where to give, please visit www.feedmichigan.org. For more information on the Food Bank Council of Michigan please visit www.fbcmich.org.

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Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes is Kalamazoo County's primary Emergency Food Network. We provide groceries to any local resident at no cost to them, as well as multiple feeding programs for adults and children.