Hopelink Launches "End Summer Hunger" Campaign to Feed Low-Income Kids

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 18, 2008

REDMOND, Wash. – Hopelink will launch its annual "End Summer Hunger” fund and food drive in April and invites community groups, schools, businesses and our neighbors throughout the area to do their part to ease hunger and homelessness in our community. The proceeds from this important campaign will stock Hopelink's six food banks for the high-demand summer months when subsidized meal programs at schools are not available, and for Hopelink's homelessness prevention programs. In 2007, the End Summer Hunger campaign raised more than $170,000 in monetary and food donations.

One-third of that total was raised by elementary school children. "The really great thing about this campaign is that so much of it depends on kids helping kids,” said Danielle Miller, a program coordinator for Hopelink. "When the children hear that their classmates are in need, they really come to the rescue. It's inspiring to see the spirit of giving so strong in our community's young people.”

Schools that participate in End Summer Hunger have developed unique ways to get students involved. One principal pledged to dye his hair blue if the children achieved their fundraising goal. Two other schools competed against each other and the "losing” school's principal had to perform a rap in front of the winning school's students. Other schools have held bake sales, craft fairs, and similar events to help raise funds, food and awareness of community need.

Funds raised during End Summer Hunger help support the nearly 14 percent of school children in Hopelink's service areas in north and east King County who normally receive free or reduced cost breakfasts and lunches during the school year. Even with the help of these programs, parents of those children struggle to meet their families' nutrition and other basic needs. When the subsidized meal programs are not available, parents experience an even greater strain on their already stressed household budgets, and rely even more heavily on food banks to fill the gap. Families with two working parents or single working parents must also find ways to pay for summer daycare, further straining the family budget. This strain sometimes even leads to an inability to pay rent or the mortgage, putting families at grave risk for homelessness.

"With the support of our community's young people, Hopelink works very hard to find direct, effective ways to fight poverty in our area,” said Marilyn Mason-Plunkett, President and CEO of Hopelink. "End Summer Hunger is an important tool for feeding the 11,000 children in north and east King County who would ordinarily go hungry during the summer. Furthermore, End Summer Hunger relieves the parents' extra financial burden of providing those summertime meals, which in turn contributes to their families' financial stability.”

The grassroots End Summer Hunger campaign begins April 1 and ends July 1, and seeks the support of individuals, businesses, schools and organizations. This program is particularly important because donations historically drop during the summer, leaving food banks with lower than normal supplies. Schools that support the program encourage children to hold fund drives. Individuals who wish to support the summer need can donate cash through Hopelink's website at www.hope-link.org/takeaction/donate.

Pacific Construction Systems is the lead sponsor and Intelius is a campaign sponsor for End Summer Hunger 2008. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, contact Jason Dick at jasond@hope-link.org or 425.869.6022.

For more information about supporting the End Summer Hunger campaign, please contact Danielle Miller, 425.869.6005, daniellem@hope-link.org.