Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller launched the sixth annual statewide March Against Hunger food drive competition on Tuesday in Gary.
The Food Bank of Northwest Indiana is one of 11 regional food banks in Indiana that partner with Feeding Indiana’s Hungry or FIsH – an organization which helps link Indiana’s resources to feed those in need. For the sixth consecutive year, the Indiana Attorney General’s Office has joined FIsH and the Indiana State Bar Association to help challenge law firms to donate goods and raise money for these banks.
"This friendly food-drive competition gives us an opportunity to highlight the struggles of food banks and those in need – particularly during this harsh winter when the costs of just heating your home have been significant,” Zoeller said. “It also shows how lawyers in our state step up to serve in time of need. We're grateful for the partnerships with Feedings Indiana’s Hungry, local food banks and law groups which selflessly pull together each year to give back to the communities we serve.”
To sign up to participate in this year's statewide competition visit www.marchagainsthunger.org or www.in.gov/attorneygeneral. Totals and winners will be announced shortly after the deadline to donate which is March 31.
In 2013, 52 law groups participated in March Against Hunger and raised 10,065 pounds of food and $55,455 - which is the equivalent of 287,340 pounds or 143 tons of food. Overall, the program has raised a total of 44,166 pounds of food and $182,622 for a total of 477 tons in assistance since 2009.
“We are so thankful for Attorney General Zoeller and the legal community for again championing our food banks’ work of serving those who need help providing enough food for their families,” said Emily Weikert Bryant, executive director of Feeding Indiana’s Hungry, Inc. “Our clients continue to struggle to make ends meet, and every bit of help to put food on their tables alleviates some of their uncertainties. We hope that more attorneys and firms will take a bit of time and effort to participate and to visit one of our food banks to see what we do to help our friends and neighbors in the community.”
This year the “Attorney General’s Cup” will be presented to the firm in each of the six categories that collects the most donations:
• Sole Proprietor • Small firm (2-11 persons) • Medium firm (12-21 persons) • Large firm (22-49 persons) • X-Large firm (50+ persons) • Public/non-profit firm
Those not employed by a law firm can contribute nonperishable foods at a participating firm listed at www.in.gov/attorneygeneral or a FIsH food bank listed at www.feedingindianashungry.org.
The Food Bank of Northwest Indiana is located in Gary and supplies food to almost 100 pantries and soup kitchens in Lake and Porter Counties. In addition to distributing food to their member agencies the Food Bank also runs the BackPack, Kid’s Café, Food Rescue, HOPE Project, Summer Feeding, Family Food Nights, and Pantry on the Go programs and offers pantry referrals. Last year the Food Bank distributed over 5 million pounds of food, and served over 5,000 individuals a week.