OREANDA-NEWS. IKEA announced today that it is collaborating with Feeding America®, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization, to sponsor an in-store program, ‘Feeding the Future,’ which runs June 1 – 30, to support local Feeding America member food banks.

Through the ‘Feeding the Future’ program, IKEA U.S. will donate $1 to local Feeding America food banks for every healthy kids meal purchased in any IKEA U.S. restaurant. Additionally, IKEA customers can add $1* donations to the Feeding America network at all IKEA store registers at cash lanes, customer restaurants, IKEA Bistros and Swedish Food markets. The four healthy kids meals in the ‘Feeding the Future’ program include:

•Organic penne pasta with organic marinara sauce
•Grilled chicken with baby carrots, strawberries and string cheese
•Vegetable Ball with steamed vegetables
•Swedish meatballs, mashed potatoes and steamed vegetables

“There are millions of Americans, including children, who struggle with hunger every day. We want to support our customers and local communities, and also help our customers to support their local food banks. Collaborating with the Feeding America network, along with our commitment to healthy eating, benefits many in need,” commented Gerd Diewald, IKEA US food manager.

This year marks the third year of the ‘Feeding the Future’ program. To date the program has helped to secure more than 4 million meals** to people who struggle with hunger.

“More than 48 million people struggle with hunger in America, including 15 million children,” said Nancy Curby vice president of corporate partnerships at Feeding America. “We are thankful to IKEA U.S. for its commitment to helping families and children who may not know where they will find their next meal.”

Feeding America Network of Food Banks
The process of getting food to people who struggle with hunger in America requires a dynamic infrastructure and sophisticated management. Feeding America secures donations from national food and grocery manufacturers, retailers, shippers, packers and growers – and from government agencies and other organizations. Feeding America then moves donated food and grocery product to member food banks.

The food banks in turn distribute food and grocery items through food pantries and meal programs that serve families, children, seniors and others who struggle with hunger. Last year alone, the Feeding America network distributed more than 3 billion meals to people in need.The Feeding America nationwide network of 200 food banks also supports programs that improve food security among the people served; educates the public about the issue of hunger; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry.

Hunger Facts
•In many ways, America is the land of plenty. But for 1 in 7 people in the United States, hunger is a very real struggle. Many people believe that the problems associated with hunger are confined to small pockets of society, certain areas of the country, or certain neighborhoods, but the reality is much different.
•Right now, millions of Americans are at risk of hunger. These are often hard-working adults, children and seniors who simply cannot always make ends meet and may be forced to go without food.
•Research has shown that food insecurity and hunger are serious threats to children’s health, growth and development. The nation’s economic growth depends on the well-being of our children. As such, the existence of childhood hunger in the United States threatens future American prosperity.
•In the United States, one out of five children lives in a household with food insecurity, which means that they lack of access, at times, to enough food for an active, healthy life. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), in 2014, 15.3 million children under 18 in the United States live in this condition – unable to consistently access nutritious and adequate amounts of food necessary for a healthy life.

*IKEA guarantees a maximum donation of $50,000 to Feeding America and member food banks from June 1 to June 30, 2016.
** Not available at IKEA Carson and IKEA Las Vegas
** During the 2014 campaign from June 1 to June 30, 2014, IKEA contributed $100,000, with each $1 donated to Feeding America helping to provide 9 meals on behalf of member food banks. In 2015, IKEA raised $352,600, with each $1 donated to Feeding America helping to provide 10 meals on behalf of member food banks.