PACK THE PORCHES RESULTS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Trina Dietz
Communications Coordinator
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of St. Cloud
320.650.1644
trina.dietz@ccstcloud.org

The porches of Pioneer Place on Fifth Theatre, St. Cloud Hyundai and HealthPartners Clinics are quiet this afternoon, after hosting the eighth annual Pack the Porches Food Drive this morning.

More than $13,000 was raised, and nearly 4,000 lbs of food were donated in the effort.

“We are pleased with the results,” said Steve Pareja, Executive Director of Catholic Charities. “With the buying power offered to us by our purchasing partners, we will be able to purchase nearly $40,000 worth of groceries with the money collected today. The food collected will provide a variety of foods for our clients to choose from. This really fulfills our mission of treating all with dignity and respect.”

In addition to the food and funds collected, Coborn’s will be delivering on their pledge to match donations with 10,000 pounds of food.

While Pack the Porches is over, the March Campaign of Minnesota FoodShare continues through April 8.

Donations to Catholic Charities Emergency Services Food Shelf can be made online at www.ccstcloud.org or by dropping off food or funds at Catholic Charities Emergency Services, 157 Roosevelt Road, St. Cloud. Donations are accepted from 8 a.m. -4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. on Wednesdays.

March is a time when the donations you make to Minnesota food shelves pack an even more powerful punch than usual in the fight against hunger.

The month of March has typically been a rather lean one for Minnesota food shelves. So, Minnesota FoodShare, an interfaith collaboration fighting hunger, created their March Campaign. The group gathers donations from corporations to use as incentive funds for Minnesota food shelves. The more food and donations collected at local events like Pack the Porches, the more incentive funds we receive, resulting in more food for hungry families.

Catholic Charities Emergency Services Food Shelf serves the communities of St. Cloud, St. Augusta, Sauk Rapids, Waite Park and Sartell.