Hitachi America, Ltd. Holds 10thth Annual Summer Food Drive; Local Tarrytown Community to Support Efforts with All Donations Benefiting the Food Bank for Westchester
TARRYTOWN, NY, July 2, 2009 -- Hitachi America, Ltd., a subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd. (NYSE: HIT / TSE: 6501) will be holding its 10th annual Food Drive and join other Hitachi locations across the United States and Canada by raising awareness surrounding the issues related to hunger. This year, all Tarrytown donations collected will benefit The Food Bank for Westchester, serving Westchester County, NY. Last year, more than 50 Hitachi locations across the United States and Canada including Hitachi America, Ltd. participated in the Food Drive benefiting various food banks across North America. Together, Hitachi Group companies collected 45,000 pounds of food and over $50,000 in 2008.
It is estimated that approximately 200,000 men, women and children in Westchester are hungry or at risk for hunger. The median household income in Westchester is $71,800, and it is estimated that nearly 31% of households live at or below this median. While the unemployment rate in Westchester is slightly better than the national average, the largest growth among people needing food assistance services are “the working poor.”
Tarrytown community groups including The Village Hall of Tarrytown, the Tarrytown Police Department, The Sleepy Hollow/Tarrytown Chamber of Commerce and The Warner Library have also joined Hitachi’s effort. All will be accepting food donations at their respective offices. The theme of the drive is “One Community – Fighting Hunger, Feeding Hope.”
This year, Hitachi in Tarrytown will be donating all of the food it collects to the Food Bank for Westchester. “Demand for food assistance services has increased dramatically this year due to the current economic crisis,” said Christina Rohatynskyj, Executive Director of the Food Bank for Westchester.
“We are especially grateful to Hitachi and the surrounding Tarrytown community for hosting this drive during the summer when so many children do not have access to the meal assistance they would normally receive in school.”
The Food Bank for Westchester is one of eight food banks in New York State. It serves as the supply and support center for 200 frontline hunger relief agencies throughout Westchester County. The Food Bank for Westchester distributes approximately 5 million pounds of food annually.
Food donations of canned goods, pasta, rice and non-perishable food items (no glass containers) will be accepted beginning July 1-31 at the following locations:
Village Hall of Tarrytown
One Depot Plaza
M-F 9 am - 4:00 pm
Tarrytown Police Department
One Depot Plaza
M-F 10 am -6:00 p.m.
Sleepy Hollow/Tarrytown Chamber of Commerce
54 Main Street
M-F 10 am -3:00 pm
Warner Library
121 N. Broadway
Mon & Thurs. 1 pm – 9 pm
Tues & Wed. 10 am – 6 pm
Fri. 9 am – 5 pm
Sat. 10 am – 1 pm
Community members are encouraged to bring food items to one of these drop-off locations.
For more information or to volunteer at the Food Bank For Westchester, please contact Nancy Lyons at 914-923-1100.