Boeing Employee Harvest Yields Nearly 2 Million Meals for the Less Fortunate
SEATTLE, Nov. 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Three area food distributors
recently accepted donations of nearly $400,000 from The Boeing Company
(NYSE: BA), Boeing employees and the Employees Community Fund of Boeing Puget
Sound.
The three distributors accepted the contributions during the annual Boeing
employees' Food & Essentials drive. The donations will generate nearly 2
million meals for the region or enough to feed about 5,600 families of four
for a month.
Boeing representatives announced the results Oct. 30 during a celebration
event at Northwest Harvest's warehouse in Kent, Wash. Food Lifeline, Northwest
Harvest and the Emergency Food Network, all of which distribute resources to
Puget Sound food banks, accepted the checks.
"It's overwhelming for all of us to be recipients of such generous spirits
and of the tremendous contributions," said Camilla Bishop, director of
development at Food Lifeline.
The record-breaking gift comes during a time of increasing demand on food
banks and other basic needs services, Bishop said. Children who often go to
school hungry make up one-third of food recipients and working families make
up about 70 percent of food bank clients.
The current economic crisis has pushed many people who thought they were
secure to reach out for help, she said.
"Families that were on the edge are unfortunately now way over the edge."
The effort shows how willing Boeing employees are to help their community,
said Fred Kiga, vice president of Boeing Northwest State and Local Government
Relations and Global Corporate Citizenship.
"Once again, it demonstrates that Boeing employees are among the most
generous people we'll find -- always ready to lend a hand or share their
resources," he said. "Our partnerships with these three agencies span many
decades, and are among our longest running social service investments. We've
seen the good things they accomplish in the lives of so many, which is why it
feels especially good to share this bounty with them today."
Employees gave more than $190,000 in monetary donations. In addition, The
Boeing Company and the Employees Community Fund of Boeing Puget Sound each
contributed $100,000, matching employee contributions dollar-for-dollar up to
$100,000. Employees also donated 36,240 pounds of food and essential items.
Contact: Kristi Moen, Global Corporate Citizenship, 425-965-5815
