'Food from the Heart' to provide holiday meals for needy familie - FOX19.com-Cincinnati News, Weather & Sports

'Food from the Heart' to provide holiday meals for needy families

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Posted by FOX19 Digital Media Staff - email
CINCINNATI, OH (FOX19) -

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul in cooperation with Kroger and FOX19, announce the kick off of the annual ‘Food From The Heart' campaign.

Since the annual holiday drive began 22 years ago, over one million pounds of food or more than 400,000 meals have been collected and distributed to local families in need.

A live kick-off celebration is being held at the Kroger Marketplace store in Newport on Thursday, November 8 at 9:30 a.m. as Kroger donates non-perishable products equal to more than 12,000 meals.

The holiday food drive will run through December 31, 2012 with donations of non-perishable items being collected at all Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky Kroger locations. The items collected will be distributed to families in need by St. Vincent de Paul volunteers in neighborhoods across the Tri-State throughout the holiday season. Cash donations to support St. Vincent de Paul can also be made at checkout coin boxes at all participating Kroger stores for the duration of the campaign.

In the communities surrounding participating stores, there are close to 300,000 people living below the poverty level, including more than 100,000 children. A $1 donation will provide 7 meals for these families. This year's goal is 70,000 pounds or 219 barrels of food, which would provide more than 56,000 meals.

Collection barrels with ‘Food From The Heart' signage will be located at all Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky Kroger locations. There are three simple ways you can donate to a neighbor in need:

  • Purchase non-perishable food items and drop them in the food collection barrels located at the store entrances or at the checkout.
  • Drop a cash donation in the donation boxes at the check out counters at all Kroger stores – look for the clear plastic boxes with St. Vincent de Paul's blue logo.
  • Log onto St. Vincent de Paul's website, www.SVDPcincinnati.org, click on the Give the Gift of Hope link and make a donation to help feed a local family in need while including "Food from the Heart" in the special instructions box.

St. Vincent de Paul serves local families in neighborhoods across the Tri-State. As a result, the food donated is quickly distributed in the neighborhoods where it is collected.

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