Island Harvest Food Bank Receives $20,000 Grant From Conagra Foods Foundation

HAUPPAUGE, N.Y. - July 16, 2015 - PRLog -- Tens of thousands of children on Long Island face hunger. When schools are closed for summer, children have less access to nutritious meals as many rely on free or reduced school breakfasts and lunches. This is why Feeding America, the nation’s leading domestic hunger-relief charity, has selected Island Harvest Food Bank to receive a Hunger Free Summer grant funded by the ConAgra Foods Foundation to help provide more meals to children when they need them most, when school is out for summer.

“The Conagra Hunger Free Summer grant allows us to provide more meals to children this summer, so they don’t have to worry about food, and have more time to run, play and be kids,” says Randi Shubin Dresner, President and CEO, Island Harvest.  “We are privileged to work with Feeding America and our partners at ConAgra Foods Foundation to combat childhood hunger on Long Island.”

This summer, Island Harvest Food Bank is one of 23 Feeding America food banks in 15 states that will receive Hunger Free Summer grants, funded by the ConAgra Foods Foundation and distributed by Feeding America, to start new or expand existing summer feeding programs. These grants totaling $700,000––ranging from $20,000 to $40,000 each––will allow the food banks to serve food in school libraries during the summer months, provide meals to kindergarteners at summer camp and deliver boxes of food to families in need and beyond.

“Island Harvest has expanded its Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) to 55 sites across Long Island this year, with more than 175,000 meals expected to be served,” said Dresner. “Through our partnership with Feeding America and the ConAgra Foods Foundation and other generous contributors, we’ll reach more than 4,000 children and families this summer.”

Take Part in a Hunger Free Summer

-    Hunger Free Fridays: Many ConAgra Foods’ products are marked with a red push pin and code. For each eight-digit code entered at www.ChildHungerEndsHere.com this summer, ConAgra Foods will donate the monetary equivalent of one meal to Feeding America®, up to 3 million meals. On every Friday between now and July 31, 2015 1 code = 1 meal  plus 1 bonus meal. Look for a message from Kid President on Hunger Free Fridays.

About Island Harvest Food Bank
Since 1992, Island Harvest has grown to become the largest hunger relief organization in the region, feeding and supporting 316,000 Long Islanders annually, helping to change the lives of millions.  By relying on volunteers, in-kind services, and donated food, close to 94 cents of every dollar donated to Island Harvest directly benefits Island Harvest’s robust programs and initiatives.

With a mission to end hunger and reduce food waste on Long Island, Island Harvest has pioneered innovative and effective food and product collection and distribution systems, hunger awareness and nutrition education programs, job training programs, services for targeted populations, and outreach and advocacy initiatives.  Island Harvest is the region’s leading agency in disaster relief and emergency response readiness for food and product distribution, support and services.  Island Harvest is a member of Feeding America, the nation’s leading domestic hunger-relief charity.

About ConAgra Foods
ConAgra Foods, Inc.,  is one of North America's largest packaged food companies with branded and private branded food found in 99 percent of America's households, as well as a strong commercial foods business serving restaurants and foodservice operations globally. Consumers can find recognized brands such as Banquet®, Chef Boyardee®, Egg Beaters®, Healthy Choice®, Hebrew National®, Hunt's®, Marie Callender's®, Orville Redenbacher's®, PAM®, Peter Pan®, Reddi-wip®, Slim Jim®, Snack Pack® and many other ConAgra Foods brands, along with food sold by ConAgra Foods under private brand labels, in grocery, convenience, mass merchandise, club and drug stores.

Additionally, ConAgra Foods supplies frozen potato and sweet potato products as well as other vegetable, spice, bakery and grain products to commercial and foodservice customers. ConAgra Foods operates ReadySetEat.com, an interactive recipe website that provides consumers with easy dinner recipes and more. For more information, please visit us at www.conagrafoods.com

About ConAgra Foods Foundation
The ConAgra Foods Foundation, through its Nourish Today, Flourish Tomorrow platform, is dedicated to raising awareness of the nearly 16 million children in America who are at risk of hunger and live in food insecure homes where they may not have enough food to live active, healthful lives. It aggressively pursues sustainable solutions in the fight against child hunger.

And the Foundation is committed to building a community of people who are passionate about ensuring that all kids have access to the food and facts they need to eat nutritiously while living balanced lifestyles and succeeding in school and life. ConAgra Foods Foundation invests in national and local partnerships with high-impact, not-for-profit organizations, such as Feeding America and 4H that take an innovative approach to addressing needs in the core areas of hunger and nutrition education. For more information, please visit www.conagrafoods.com or www.facebook.com/conagrafoods. The ConAgra Foods Foundation is primarily funded by ConAgra Foods.

About Feeding America
Feeding America is the nationwide network of 200 food banks that leads the fight against hunger in the United States. Together, we provide food to more than 46 million people through 60,000 food pantries and meal programs in communities across America. Feeding America also supports programs that improve food security among the people we serve; educates the public about the problem of hunger; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry. Individuals, charities, businesses and government all have a role in ending hunger. Donate. Volunteer. Advocate. Educate.  Together we can solve hunger. Visit www.feedingamerica.org, find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.