Lugar-Statewide Hoosiers Fighting Hunger Food Drive
Lugar-Statewide Hoosiers Fighting Hunger Food Drive
9/2/2010
Press Release of Senator Lugar
Lugar Partners for 2nd Annual Statewide Hoosiers Fighting Hunger Food Drive
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
U.S. Sen. Dick Lugar, along with Kroger, Marsh, and Walmart, will sponsor the 2nd annual Hoosiers Fighting Hunger statewide food drive benefiting Indiana food banks and local pantries September 1 through September 30. The food drive is part of National Hunger Action Month.
"I thank Kroger, Marsh and Walmart for participation in our Hoosiers Fighting Hunger statewide food drive," said Lugar. "I encourage Hoosiers to donate to food banks in September for National Hunger Action Month. Items purchased in the Kroger, Marsh and Walmart stores will go directly to local food banks and pantries that serve Hoosier Communities."
The Hoosiers Fighting Hunger campaign came about in 2009 when Senator Lugar heard from food banks across the state that demand had increased more than 30 percent over previous years. In response, Senator Lugar reached out to Kroger, Marsh and Walmart and asked them to partner, for the first time, in a statewide food drive. Setting aside competitive instincts, hundreds of stores across the state have once again set up Hoosiers Fighting Hunger displays with pre-bagged food items for purchase at the $3, $5 and $10 levels.
In 2009, Hoosiers donated 138 tons of food to the Hoosiers Fighting Hunger statewide food drive.
On June 22, 2009, Lugar reintroduced the Good Samaritan Hunger Relief Tax Incentive Extension Act to make permanent provisions that allow farmers and small business owners to receive a tax deduction for donating food products to food banks, pantries and homeless shelters. Provisions of this bill were temporarily extended in the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, but expired at the end of 2009.
Lugar is also an inaugural member of the Senate Hunger Caucus, which provides a forum for Senators to discuss and debate important hunger issues facing the United States and the rest of our world.
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