PHILADELPHIA - Meat is one of the most essential, yet among the scarcest commodities in the diets of needy people. In response to this deficiency, the local meat processing industry makes an annual both symbolic and tangible show of support for hunger relief by collectively making a large scale donation of their products to the Greater Philadelphia Food Bank.
This annual event, held in October during National Hunger Month, is known as "Meating the Need." On October 27, at 9:30 a.m., convoys of trucks from meat companies will arrive at the Food Bank, 302 W. Berks St., Phila., to donate an expected total of approximately 16,000 pounds of processed meats,
In 1996, the meat industry donated to the Food Bank a total of nearly 370,000 pounds of meat, valued in excess of $1 million, including hams, hot dogs, ground beef, bologna, turkey, sausages, and so forth. These products will be among the approximately eight million pounds of food that the Food Bank distributes annually to 700 charities that feed needy people in the five county southeastern Pennsylvania region.
Among the participating companies on October 27 will be Hatfield Quality Meats; Habbersett, Inc.; Liedy's Pork; and Dietz & Watson.
A brief recognition program, chaired by James Guiffrida, executive vice president of American Family Brands/Freda Division, another participating company, will follow the unloading of the donated meat.
Meat Industry Insights News Service
P.O. Box 553
Northport, NY 11768
Phone: 631-757-4010
Fax: 631-757-4060
E-mail: sflanagan@sprintmail.com
Web Site: http://www.spcnetwork.com/mii