Friday, June 01, 2007
Iowa's 2007 State Employee Food Drive Kicks Off June 5
Luncheon at the Capitol highlights National Hunger Awareness Day
(DES MOINES)- Governor Chet Culver announced today that the kickoff for Iowa’s State Employee Food Drive will take place on June 5, 2007 on the west steps of the Capitol with a luncheon. June 5th is also National Hunger Awareness Day.
Governor Culver appointed Iowa Utilities Board Chairman John Norris to chair this year’s food drive. Norris will emcee the Noon lunch program, which will include the reading of a Governor’s Proclamation as well as Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Karey Claghorn and Food Bank of Iowa Executive Director Karen Ford.
“Iowa’s State Employee Food Drive has been tremendously successful every year since 1983, but additional need shown in communities throughout Iowa is incentive for State of Iowa employees to do even more than any previous year in 2007,” said John Norris. “Annually, State of Iowa employees have given generously to the Food Bank of Iowa. Iowa’s public servants donated over $67,000 and 26,000 pounds of food items in 2006 and have given more than $500,000 and 94,000 pounds of food since 1990.”
Governor Culver said, “I am proud of the commitment that State of Iowa employees have to ensuring that no one in their community goes hungry. This year I want to issue a challenge to set a new record for the amount of money donated and food collected. I’m confident that Iowa’s dedicated state employees will rise to the challenge in 2007.”
On National Hunger Awareness Day, the luncheon will celebrate Iowa’s continuing efforts to help its fellow Iowans. The event is open to the public. All Iowans are also encouraged to attend and support the Food Bank of Iowa. A $5 donation for lunch per person will provide a tremendous start to this year’s initiative, which runs through June 15, 2007.
The Food Bank of Iowa and its partner agencies across Iowa provide food and necessities to about 54,000 Iowans every year with approximately 13,500 receiving assistance on any given week.