Seattle, WA: Washington independent hunger relief agencies Emergency Food Network and Northwest Harvest will host a 24-hour food drive September 17-18, 2010 at the Stadium Bowl in Tacoma, WA in an effort to break the Guinness World Record for collecting the most pounds of donated food in single location.
The goal of the event, called "Fill the Bowl," is to raise one million pounds of food for the Puget Sound region. The current record is 509,147 pounds of food. The group will host the drive at the Stadium Bowl, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.
"We know the community will get behind this goal and help us shatter the record," says Emergency Food Network's executive director Helen McGovern. "This is also an opportunity to recognize the anniversary of the historic Stadium Bowl by hosting a food drive there during a time of such incredible need. Unemployment in Washington remains high. More than half of infants in this state are on the WIC program. Working families continue to fill the lines at food banks. This event is a great way to support those in need as well as to have a little fun and break a Guinness Record!"
In addition to the food drive, a full schedule of events will take place during the weekend of September 17-18. The food drive will be preceded by a parade in Tacoma beginning at 3:00 pm on Friday and a football game between Stadium High and Bellarmine at 7:00 pm. Movies and entertainment will be provided in the Bowl Friday night.
Donations of non-perishable, non-expired food will be accepted at various locations and on-site between 4 pm on Friday, September 17 until 4 pm on Saturday, September 18 and pre-event locations the week prior. See blog for details: http://fillthestadiumbowl.blogspot.com/
The Emergency Food Network has been working since 1982 to provide food and other essentials at no cost to over 65 food banks, hot meal sites and shelters for distribution to low-income families and individuals in Pierce County.
Northwest Harvest is Washington’s own statewide hunger relief agency. Their mission is to provide nutritious food to hungry people statewide in a manner that respects their dignity, while working to eliminate hunger.
###