YORBA LINDA, CA (April 22, 2010) --- For the second year in a row Castrol GTX Ford Mustang Funny Car driver and Orange County resident Ashley Force Hood is asking her fans and fans of the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series to help her Stamp Out Hunger. This year Force Hood has ramped up her participation and produced a video starring her two cats, Simba and Gizmo, drag racing down a track constructed of canned food that will be donated. Additionally, Force Hood is scheduled to host representatives of the Stamp Out Hunger program at the AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals at Gateway International Raceway outside St, Louis on April 30th.
On Saturday, May 8, Force Hood is asking everyone to join forces with the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) to Stamp Out Hunger across America in order to provide assistance to the rapidly increasing number of Americans who are struggling with hunger."The National Association of Letter Carriers are again conducting a national food drive called Stamp Out Hunger to help those in need. Last year I Tweeted about this food drive after reading about it in a magazine and all of our dedicated fans did a great job in supporting this wonderful cause. I actually got an e-mail from the Orange County Food Bank thanking our racing community for donating and our race team for promoting their cause,” said Force Hood, a three-time NHRA national event winner.
The Orange County Food Bank received nearly 300,000 pounds of food in 2009 as a result of the one day Stamp Out Hunger effort.
"Food Banks all around the country appreciated Ashley's involvement last year. She has quite a fan base and we had a record breaking year due to great supporters like Ashley," said Kristin Kvesic, Orange County Food Bank
“With help needed now more than ever before it’s even more important to show our support again this year. It's so easy, and a great way to help out your neighbors in need," added Force Hood.
To help Stamp Out Hunger this year, simply leave a sturdy bag containing non-perishable foods, such as canned soup, canned vegetables, pasta, rice or cereal next to your mailbox prior to the time of regular mail delivery on Saturday, May 8. Food items should be in non-breakable containers, such as boxes and cans. The nation’s 230,000 letter carriers will then collect the donations as they deliver the mail and take them to food banks and other hunger relief organizations in more than 10,000 local communities – everything stays local.
Now in its 18th year, the Stamp Out Hunger effort is the nation’s largest single-day food drive. This year drive organizers hope to exceed 2009’s record-setting total of 73.4 million pounds of donated food, as well as surpass one billion pounds of food collected over the history of the drive.
Unfortunately, despite the generosity of millions of Americans who have supported the letter carriers' food drive in previous years, the need for food assistance has never been greater. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s annual study measuring food security in the United States, the number of Americans living in food insecure homes increased from 36.2 million in 2007, to 49.1 million in 2008. Perhaps most alarming, of this total, approximately one in four is a child (16.7 million).
The effects of the recession and unemployment rates are also having a dramatic impact on the agencies that help the hungry. In a recent survey conducted by Feeding America, the nation’s leading domestic-hunger-relief organization, its 203 food bank members consistently reported increased demand for emergency food assistance, ranging from five to 150 percent. Today, food banks are struggling to meet the surging needs of their clients.
For more information about the annual Stamp Out Hunger effort in your community, ask your letter carrier, contact your local post office, visit http://www.helpstampouthunger.com/ or become a fan of the drive at www.facebook.com/StampOutHunger and Campbell Soup Company will donate one can of soup to Feeding America (up to one million cans). You can also follow the drive at www.twitter.com/StampOutHunger or text STAMP3 to 30305* to sign up for mobile reminders.
*Up to 3 messages total. Message & Data Rates May Apply. Text STOP to end, HELP for info. Terms and conditions at abl.bz/soh.
