Boston VA Research Institute, Inc.

BVARI is holding a food drive from November 2, 2009 to November 20, 2009!

All of the food collected will go to the Greater Boston Food Bank to benefit hungry families across eastern Massachusetts. This is a wonderful opportunity to help those less fortunate in these difficult times. I encourage you join in our efforts and make a difference in someone’s life today.

The Greater Boston Food Bank is New England’s largest hunger-relief organization and is working hard to help end hunger in eastern Massachusetts. They distribute over 30 million pounds of food per year to more than 600 hunger relief agencies throughout eastern Massachusetts.

Once the food you donate is collected by the Food Bank, it is checked for compliance with food safety guidelines and then sorted into about 20 food categories. Hunger-relief agencies, such as pantries and soup kitchens, then order the food by category. This allows the agencies to order exactly what they need, whether that be juice, protein products, or canned vegetables.

Here are some hunger facts about Eastern Massachusetts:

• 320,000 people or 7% of the population uses emergency food programs annually
• More than one in three households served has a child under the age of 18
• Over 10% of those who receive emergency food assistance are 65 or older
• 57% of the people served have to choose between food and rent, medicine, or heat
• 84% have a place to live but cannot get the food they need

Please join us in helping these hungry families by donating non-perishable items.

Some examples of desirable foods are:

• Canned tuna, chicken, or other meats
• Canned soups or chili
• Plastic bottles or cans of 100% fruit juice
• Pasta, rice, or other grains
• Healthy Cereal
• Dry or boxed shelf-stable milk
• Canned Beans
• Peanut butter
• Canned Vegetables

Thank you for your participation in this worthwhile event.