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Tag: feed the hungry

PepsiCo and Feed the Children partner to feed 800 local families

Volunteers braved the rain last week to distribute food to 800 needy families in Rochester. (photo provided)
Volunteers braved the rain last week to distribute food to 800 needy families in Rochester. (Photo provided)

A partnership between PepsiCo and Feed the Children will help supplement meals for 800 Rochester families in need.

Now in its fourth year, the PepsiCo and Feed the Children partnership is part of a larger initiative between the two organizations to help feed communities in cities throughout the U.S. In Rochester, more than 38 percent of the population lives below the poverty line.

“We love serving the Rochester community and are grateful for the opportunity to give back to our community,” said Bonnie Keith, who serves as PepsiCo’s Frito-Lay division Mid-Atlantic region key account manager. “At Frito-Lay and PepsiCo, we believe in engaging our associates in community projects and initiatives that make a positive difference by supporting our local community where we live and work.”

The families in Rochester were identified and preselected by Catholic Family Center, a nonprofit that helps elevate the local community by enabling independence, empowering the vulnerable and strengthening individuals and families.

“We recognize hunger can’t be fought alone, but by working together we can provide food and essentials to millions of children and families who live in poverty,” Feed the Children President and CEO Travis Arnold said in a statement. “Hope for a better future is made possible thanks to our many volunteers, donors and partners.”

Volunteers helped assist and distribute donated food to 800 families in Rochester at the fourth annual Feed the Hungry event. (photo provided)
Volunteers helped distribute donated food to 800 families in Rochester at the fourth annual Feed the Hungry event. (Photo provided)

This year’s event kicked off Aug. 8, when volunteers from PepsiCo, Tops Friendly Markets, Catholic Family Center, Excellus BlueCross BlueShield and Feed the Children served families and assisted with distribution of food. SwiftLift Inc. provided equipment and drivers to unload nearly 100 pallets of food and supplies.

“Tops is committed to eradicating hunger in the communities we serve,” said Tops Chairman and CEO Frank Curci. “We’re thrilled to partner with our friends at PepsiCo and Feed the Children on this initiative. The way we see it, we’re simply neighbors helping neighbors.”

Each recipient received a 25-pound box of nonperishable food items, a 15-pound box of personal-care items, a box of Avon products, PepsiCo beverages and Frito-Lay Better-For-You variety packs, Quaker breakfast foods and Life cereal, as well as fresh produce and non-perishable food items provided by Tops.

“Catholic Family Center is grateful to be working once again with PepsiCo, Feed the Children and our neighbors at Tops Markets,” CFC CEO Marlene Bessette said. “Together, these partners are truly providing vital nourishment for both body and mind to some of our city’s most vulnerable families and children.”

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