CITIZENS BANK HUNGER INITIATIVES
Citizens Bank is sponsoring two intiatives in 2010 to help Metro-Detroiters in need. Be a part of these great intiatives and help Ford Arts, Beats & Eats make a difference!
CITIZENS BANK FOOD DRIVE, JULY 26 – SEPT. 3 -BENEFITTING GLEANERS COMMUNITY FOOD BANK
Ford Arts, Beats & Eats presented by Citizens Bank launched the Citizens Bank Food Drive. From July 26 – Sept. 3, the Citizens Bank Food Drive will collect donations of food to benefit Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeastern Michigan.
Gleaners’ donation boxes will be placed in all 25 Citizens Bank locations during that period. Members of the public are encouraged to donate a minimum of three non-perishable food items to receive one admission ticket to Arts, Beats & Eats. A major campaign to raise awareness of the hunger relief initiative will be supported with newspaper advertising and radio remotes with gift certificate giveaways.
“This is an important project for Citizens Bank and Ford Arts, Beats and Eats to become involved in,” said Lissa Chartier, Citizens Bank’s Southeast Michigan region president. “This program will make an immediate difference this summer to those individuals and families in our community who are struggling to put food on the table.”
FORD ARTS, BEATS & EATS TEAMS UP WITH FORGOTTEN HARVEST TO BEAT HUNGER
Ford Arts, Beats & Eats presented by Citizens Bank today announced a partnership with the charity organization Forgotten Harvest and with Royal Oak area restaurants. The program will collect cash donations and perform food rescues prior to and during the festival (Sept. 3-6), in an effort to reduce hunger across metro Detroit. Based in Oak Park, Forgotten Harvest is an organization committed to rescuing excess food and delivering it to soup kitchens, pantries and shelters.
Throughout the month of August, dozens of Royal Oak restaurants will collect donations. Each restaurant participating will adopt a simple, yet creative, way to collect donations to benefit Forgotten Harvest. Every restaurant has agreed to contribute a minimum donation of $500, enough money to provide 2,500 meals. Additionally, during each night of the festival, trained and licensed volunteers on from Genesis the Church, on behalf of Forgotten Harvest, will rescue food from participating restaurant booths and package it for distribution to those in need.
Official signage and containers for the collection of monetary donations will be on display in participating restaurants starting Aug. 1. Participating Royal Oak restaurants include Andiamo’s, BlackFinn, D’Amatos, Lily’s Seafood Grill, Mr. B’s, The Oxford Inn, Sangria, What Crepe, Woody’s Diner, Zumba Mexican Grille, Mediterranean Grille and many more. More than 25 restaurants are expected to take part in the program and be signed up by Aug.1. A complete list will be continually updated at www.artsbeatseats.com.
“This initiative and the involvement in the festival are incredibly exciting for us,” said Peter Fezzey, director of gifts and strategic relationships for Forgotten Harvest. “With the help of these outstanding members of the Royal Oak community, we hope to collect as many as 75,000 meals for those who need it most.”
