Produce People Care –
Distributing 2,750,000 pounds of fresh produce in FY2008!
Dare to Care Food Bank is delivering fresh produce daily to agencies serving people in need of food assistance throughout the Metro Louisville area. Dare to Care’s “Produce People Care” Program is in its 10th year and has grown from 200,000 pounds distributed in the first year to 2,750,000 pounds for the year ending June 30, 2008.
The success of this program depends on the generous donations of local produce companies and also national produce companies through the solicitation efforts of Feeding America. The program has received financial support from Yum! Brands, Kraft Foods, and Krogers that enabled us to purchase a new refrigerated produce truck to deliver produce daily. Other expenses include packaging and transportation costs which were over $100,000 last year.
Each morning, our produce coordinator is out soliciting fresh produce from local produce companies. These companies are committed to helping Dare to Care Food Bank fulfill its mission of providing food to people at risk of hunger, and that is why we named our produce program “Produce People Care”.
After picking up fresh fruits and vegetables at the produce terminal the truck returns to our warehouse for sorting. Some is placed in our 55,000 cubic foot cooler for pantries and emergency kitchens that are picking up food at the warehouse. Then the truck leaves to make scheduled deliveries throughout our service area.
Produce People Care is a great partnership of local companies, national corporations, and Dare to Care Food Bank. Working together, we are getting good, nutritious, fresh produce to people in need of assistance.
