$20,000 to help feed local children

SYRACUSE, N.Y. >> Food Bank of Central New York received a $20,000 grant Monday from the Joy in Childhood Foundation, the charitable foundation supported by Dunkin’ and Baskin-Robbins.

The grant to Food Bank of Central New York is part of the Joy in Childhood Foundation’s threeyear, $1.5 million commitment to Feeding America in support of hungry kids nationwide.

The grant announcement coincides with the kick-off of a “Week of Joy” in Syracuse where local Dunkin’ franchisees and crew members spent time volunteering at Food Bank of Central New York. During the event, volunteers supported the Joy in Childhood Foundation’s mission to provide the simple joys of childhood to kids battling hunger by sorting and packing nutritious items into boxes for the Food Bank’s Mobile Food Pantry program.

“National Week of Joy is a wonderful way to demonstrate the need for volunteers to help pro-

grams across the U.S. fulfill their missions. We thank Dunkin’ and Joy in Childhood for funding child nutrition programming and having volunteers assist at our distribution center,” said Kathleen Stress, executive director of Food Bank of Central New York. “Food Bank of Central New York relies heavily on these volunteers to help us pack wholesome food items for the mobile food pantry distribution program and other vital community initiatives.”

Across the country, Dunkin’ and Baskin-Robbins franchisees and crew members will volunteer their time at more than 80 Feed- ing America member food banks during the “Week of Joy,” which takes place March 18-22. There are 100 Week of Joy events planned around the country.

“The Joy in Childhood Foundation is proud to support local food banks, such as the Food Bank of Central New York, that share our commitment to bringing joy to kids and helping them live healthier lives,” said Karen Raskopf, co-chair of the Joy in Childhood Foundation.

To date, the Joy in Childhood Foundation has awarded more than $82,000 to Food Bank of Central New York to help address child hunger in Central New York.

Food Bank of Central New York serves as the primary food supplier to the emergency food network, comprised of 443 partner agencies, within an 11-county service area across central and northern New York. The Food Bank will provide more than 15 million pounds of nutritious food this year – the equivalent of 12.5 million meals – to hungry families, children, and seniors.

Since launching in 2006, the Joy in Childhood Foundation has granted more than $18 million to hun- dreds of national and local charities across the country. To learn more, visit www. bringjoy.org.

PHOTO COURTESY JOY IN CHILDHOOD FOUNDATION Central New York Dunkin’ franchisees and crew members present Food Bank of Central New York with a $20,000grant from the Joy in Childhood Foundation to support child hunger relief efforts during national “Week of Joy” at the food bank’s headquarters in Syracuse, NY on Monday, March 18. The grant to Food Bank of Central New York is part of the Joy in Childhood Foundation’s three-year, $1.5 million commitment to Feeding America in support of hungry kids nationwide. Dunkin’ volunteers also spent the morning sorting and packing nutritious items into boxes for the Food Bank’s Mobile Food Pantry program.

PHOTO COURTESY JOY IN CHILDHOOD FOUNDATION Central NewYork Dunkin’ volunteers celebrated the national “Week of Joy” and supported the Joy in Childhood Foundation’s mission to provide the simple joys of childhood to kids battling hunger by sorting and packing nutritious items into boxes for the Mobile Food Pantry program at the Regional Food Bank of Central New York in Syracuse, NY on Monday, March 18. The Joy in Childhood Foundation also presented Food Bank of Central New York with a $20,000grant to support child hunger relief efforts in Syracuse.