FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MEDIA ADVISORY

Roadrunner Food Bank

CONTACT: Ann Powers

505-349-8682

505-681-2780 (cell)

ROADRUNNER FOOD BANK

HOLIDAY FOOD DRIVE HITS RECORD YEAR

Albuquerque, NM - January 31, 2008 – Food… glorious food! 

Whether those involved were giving or receiving, totals show Roadrunner Food Bank’s Holiday Food Drive 2007 hit a record year in filling the hearts and stomachs of thousands of New Mexicans.

In its 27th year, the 2007 event collected 636,798 pounds of food, compared to 602,331 in 2006.  These figures include monetary donations translated into pounds.  For Roadrunner, one dollar is equivalent to three pounds of food.  One pound of food equals one meal.  That means the hunger pains of thousands New Mexicans were quashed by nearly 640,000 meals seasoned with holiday cheer - hunger pains that would have otherwise silenced the spirit of the giving season for many people in need.

“There’s an abundance of compassion and generosity here in the Land of Enchantment,” said Melody Wattenbarger, Roadrunner Food Bank Executive Director.  “And it certainly shines through during the holiday season.  Roadrunner Food Bank more than appreciates the selfless efforts of everyone involved in the annual Holiday Food Drive’s success.”

The National Association of Letter Carriers and National Rural Letter Carriers’ Association contributed donations from their “Stamp Out Hunger” Food Drive to help Roadrunner Food Bank’s holiday goals.  In addition, Smith’s Food & Drug Stores have been strong supporters for the past decade.   Various groups operating donation drop-off substations included: El Dorado High School, Kirtland Air Force Base, Paradise Methodist Church, Citi Cards and the Boy Scouts.  Galles Chevrolet, Albuquerque Uptown, and Starbucks Coffee also served as collection sites. 

Other generous sponsors included:  Albuquerque Journal, Sandia National Laboratories/Lockhead Martin, KRST 92.3, Federal Executive Board, KOB-FM 93.3, Comcast, and the United States Postal Service.  Lt. Governor Diane Denish sent out a personalized message calling on New Mexicans to give the gift of food by donating non-perishable items for the 2007 event. 

The Roadrunner Holiday Food Drive traditionally begins early in October, runs through the end of the year and caps off in partnership with the Eyewitness News 4 Holiday Food Drive. 

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Roadrunner Food Bank of New Mexico is New Mexico’s largest non-profit organization dedicated to ending hunger.  Through its statewide network of 600 partner agencies and six regional food banks, Roadrunner Food Bank distributes more than 16 million pounds of food annually to approximately 240,000 New Mexicans in need.  Every dollar donated yields $12 worth of food.  Roadrunner Food Bank is the only New Mexico member of America’s Second Harvest—the Nation’s Food Bank Network.  In the 28 years since it was founded, Roadrunner Food Bank has distributed more than 165 million pounds of food statewide.  For more information about Roadrunner Food Bank and its programs visit www.rrfb.org