Canned Food Drive at ‘Celebrate CSU Milestones’ May 8

In honor of the Colorado State faculty and staff being recognized at the "Celebrate CSU Milestones" awards ceremony on May 8, the CSU Presidential Ambassador team is coordinating a food drive.

The Presidential Ambassadors are asking those who plan to attend the "Celebrate CSU Milestones" event to donate canned and dry food, which will support the Food Bank of Larimer County.

Food donations are especially important right now as the tough economic climate is creating extra need among individuals and families in the Larimer County community.   

"With the economic decline, the Food Bank of Larimer County has seen an increase in demand for food in all three of our programs," said Charlene Olms, the Food Bank of Larimer County’s Volunteer and Development Coordinator. "This includes demand directly from our lower income clients, from agencies serving low-income and at-risk populations and from the Kid’s Cafe operated by the Food Bank."  

The Food Bank’s mission is to reduce hunger through programs that collect, process, store and distribute food to individuals and agencies that serve those in need.

For every dollar donated, the Food Bank can provide a family enough food to make four nutritious meals.  

Food Share, the direct service pantry program, is an important source of food for more than 10,000 low-income people each month. In 2008, more than 24,000 unduplicated individuals were served through the two Food Share locations in Fort Collins and Loveland.

The Food Bank is a source of food for approximately 70 Larimer County nonprofit member agencies that serve the hungry. The Food Bank saved these agencies nearly $1.9 million on food expenses in 2008.

Through the Kids Cafe, children ages 3 to 18 can receive free meals after school and during the summer months at feeding sites throughout the county, including the Boys and Girls Clubs and local community centers. In 2008, nearly 56,000 meals were served to children from low-income families.

Individual donors are the largest source of income for the Food Bank, providing 50 percent of necessary funding.  Additional funding comes from foundations, member agencies, the United Way, fund raising events, the government, corporations and faith communities.

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