Washington - Honoring creative and caring efforts to helpthe hungry in communities around the country, U.S. Secretary ofAgriculture Ed Schafer has congratulated volunteers in the Fight HungerInitiative whose involvement has also shown how rewarding and practicalit is to help their neighbors. Schafer launched the initiative patternedfrom efforts that raised 80,000 pounds of food bank donations in hishome state of North Dakota by volunteers to "fill the dome" of a localsports arena.
"The biggest barrier keeping Americans from helping their neighbor inneed isn't a lack of desire, but a lack of knowing just how to help. OurFight Hunger Initiative encourages specific ways to match the great needfor support with really great people who want to help," said Schafer."Noble efforts by these community groups are an inspiration to all of usto lend a helping hand of kindness to a neighbor."
Schafer initiated the Fight Hunger Initiative with a USDA.gov website ofspecific examples and resources of how to organize a food drive, providehelp to the elderly, sponsor feeding programs and find a local volunteeropportunity. Schafer said he hopes the next Agriculture Secretary willadopt the initiative at www.usda.gov/secretary with its toolkit ofresources.
In letters of recognition, Schafer specifically highlightedcontributions by community volunteers in Montana and New York, and 4-HClubs in Maine and Kentucky:
Farm-To-Table in Glendive, Montana, a project of Community GivingAssistance Towards Employment, for a community garden and cooperative tohelp farmers and ranchers market their food products.
Venison Donation Coalition, Inc. in Bath, New York, for coordinating astatewide donation by hunters of venison processed and distributed inone pound packages for local food banks and their partner organizations.
Coastal Clovers 4-H Club in York, Maine, for planting a large communitygarden to donate more than 2,000 pounds of fresh produce to local foodbanks and food pantries.
Kentucky 4-H Youth Development Program in Lexington, Kentucky, for theirState Fair canned food drive to collect more than 280 canned food itemsand over 1,000 4-H food and horticulture products donated to a localharvest organization.
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