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Kraft Foods and America's Second Harvest to Fight Hunger in 10 Cities on Hunger Awareness Day

Kraft Foods and America's Second Harvest to Fight Hunger in 10 Cities on Hunger Awareness Day

Published 06-05-07

Submitted by Kraft Foods Inc.

NORTHFIELD, Ill. "“ June 5, 2007-On Hunger Awareness Day, Kraft Foods Inc. will join America's Second Harvest-The Nation's Food Bank Network in events across the country to raise awareness about more than 35 million people facing hunger. Today's activities are part of the 10th anniversary celebration of the Kraft Community Nutrition Program, a partnership that has provided more than one billion servings of fresh food to people in need and $26 million dollars in grants to food banks.
"As part of Kraft's long-standing commitment to help fight hunger and improve nutrition among America’s adults and children, we are proud to partner with America’s Second Harvest and its member food banks through Kraft's Community Nutrition Program. Together, we are developing innovative ways of feeding the greatest number of people in need and improving their health by delivering highly nutritious, fresh food from a variety of sources," said David Brearton, Executive Vice President of Global Business Services & Strategy at Kraft and a board member of America’s Second Harvest.

Kraft will sponsor events at 10 food banks in 10 cities spanning the United States, including: Northern Illinois Food Bank (St. Charles, IL), Alameda County Food Bank (Oakland, CA), Capital Area Food Bank (Washington, DC), Food Bank of Southeast Virginia (Norfolk, VA), San Antonio Food Bank, Second Harvest Heartland (St. Paul, MN), The Community Food Bank of New Jersey, Marion Polk Food Share (Salem, OR), Food Bank for City of New York, Greater New Orleans Food Bank, and Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. Community leaders, organizations and volunteers are expected to meet and address hunger issues at these locations. Kraft Foods will also deliver a truckload of groceries and Kraft products to participating food banks.

In the Chicagoland area, Vicki Escarra, President and Chief Executive Officer of America's Second Harvest, will join the Northern Illinois Food Bank, Kraft employees, volunteers and America’s Second Harvest supporters at a breakfast event taking place in Park City, IL. "Through tremendous investments of both food and funds in the America's Second Harvest Network, Kraft Foods is a vital partner in our work to end hunger in America," said Escarra. To learn more about this particular event visit www.northernilfoodbank.org.

Innovative and Healthy Solutions for People in Need

More than 35 million people in the United States, including 13 million children, do not know where they will find their next meal. Not only are these people facing hunger and food insecurity, but they also are disproportionately impacted by obesity and chronic diseases caused by lack of access to nutritious food. According to the 2006 Hunger Survey conducted by America’s Second Harvest, which surveyed more than 30,000 food pantries and soup kitchens within America’s Second Harvest network, 29 percent of households served by the network report having at least one family member in poor health. "Healthy fresh fruits, vegetables and seafood are often expensive and difficult for low-income families to afford. Traditionally, food banks and food rescue organizations have faced challenges in providing fresh produce and meats to clients due to lack of access and the difficulty and costs associated with transporting, storing and handling perishable items," said Escarra.

For ten years, Kraft's Community Nutrition Program has been working with America’s Second Harvest and food banks to improve the quality and nutrition of food available to this population. The program funds the purchase of refrigerated trucks, walk-in coolers and training staff to handle fresh foods, which helps food banks and food rescue organizations collect and distribute fresh produce and other prepared foods that might otherwise spoil. Kraft's support has helped produce become the top category of food distributed to clients.

Community members interested in learning more about America’s Second Harvest and how they can help fight hunger on Hunger Awareness Day and year round can visit www.secondharvest.org. To learn more about Kraft Foods’ Community Nutrition Program, visit www.kraft.com.

About Kraft Foods

Kraft Foods (NYSE: KFT) is one of the world's largest food and beverage companies with annual revenues of more than $34 billion. For more than 100 years, Kraft has offered consumers delicious and wholesome foods that fit the way they live. Kraft markets a broad portfolio of iconic brands in 155 countries, including seven brands with revenue of more than $1 billion, such as Kraft cheeses, dinners and dressings; Oscar Mayer meats; Philadelphia cream cheese; Post cereals; Nabisco cookies and crackers; Jacobs coffees and Milka chocolates. Kraft became a fully independent company on March 30, 2007, and is listed in the Standard and Poor’s 100 and 500 indexes. The company also is a member of the Dow Jones Sustainability Index and the Ethibel Sustainability Index. For more information, visit the company’s website at www.kraft.com.

About Kraft Contributions
Last year, Kraft provided $84 million in food and financial support to hundreds of non-profit organizations worldwide.

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