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Due to the generosity of the communities of Ventura County, FOOD Share will be recognized on a larger scale.
Berma Colbert, Oxnard resident and participant of the “NFL Moms Tackling Hunger with Chunky Soup Program,” will announce a soup-er donation to Feeding America food banks nationwide at an event in Tampa leading up to Super Bowl XLIII.
This NFL season, members of the Professional Football Player’s Mothers Association (PFPMA) were tasked to raise as many food donations as possible for their local community through “NFL Moms Tackling Hunger with Chunky Soup Program.”
From September 1 to December 31, local NFL mom, FOOD Share supporter and chief cheerleader, Berma Colbert, led the charge to collect a total of 182,305 pounds of food in Ventura County to benefit FOOD Share. This was also the largest total poundage collected by any of the other 34 NFL moms that were participating in the program. As a reward for her efforts, Colbert will go to Tampa the week leading up to the Super Bowl to participate in a number of national hunger awareness events organized by the Campbell’s Chunky/NFL Tackling Hunger® program.
“Ventura County has always been generous, this year, in a very difficult year where folks were concerned about their own needs, everyone still came together to help others,” Colbert said. “We are blessed.”
“I was raised in this county and have seen the capacity to which we can do great things together,” said Bonnie Weigel, CEO of FOOD Share. “Through grassroots efforts hundreds of individuals, small groups and companies have stepped forward to help our neighbors in such a true time of need – these large and small companies and neighbors are the real heroes.”
A few Ventura County heroes
Ventura County youths, large corporations and everyone in-between came together to be a champion for FOOD Share and help feed the hungry. This year 247 businesses, 50 schools and 18 neighborhood drives joined FOOD Share to tackle hunger. VONS grocery stores and PODS, a portable on demand storage company, partnered to provide visibility and storage at 20 VONS Grocery stores throughout Ventura County.
A new generation of philanthropists has answered FOOD Share’s call. Many children and youth organizations donated food, money or time to benefit FOOD Share. Brownie Troop No. 481 of Camarillo collected 179 lbs. of food from local neighborhoods and 12-year old Jacob Mizraji donated $2,000 raised from selling homemade eggplant Parmesan at his temple and students from kindergarten to high schools throughout the county donated nearly 29,000 lbs.
“If you are small or big, I think anyone can make a difference,” Mizraji said. “I wanted to donate money to help people.”
Many companies have come-up with out-of-the-box ideas to involve the community in raising money and canned food donations. At Oxnard-based Chick-Fil-A, Owner Craig Goettsche gave a free chicken sandwich to anyone who brought in two cans of food – 1,770 cans were raised in just two evenings, with Goettsche matching the donation with another 1,770 cans. Jeff Grodin, owner of Capt. Hooks Sportfishing and the Ventura County Sport Fisherman’s Club organized a fishing expedition donating 260 lbs. of fresh rockfish and a $3,200 cash donation. Other contributions ranged from automotive dealers and banks to contractors associations and private companies, with donations ranging from $500 to $10,000 each.
“The entire community pitched in to make sure no one went hungry this holiday season,” Weigel said. “Thanks to Ventura County’s kindness, so many people in need will receive food for themselves and their families in the next three months.”
About FOOD Share, Inc.
A major food bank distributing millions of pounds of food each year to those in need throughout Ventura County, FOOD Share collects and receives food year-round, distributing to more than 150 partner agencies throughout Ventura County, providing food to nearly 40,000 people each month.
About Campbell Soup Company
Campbell Soup Company is a global manufacturer and marketer of high-quality foods and simple meals, including soup, baked snacks, and healthy beverages. Founded in 1869, the company has a portfolio of market-leading brands, including “Campbell’s,” “Pepperidge Farm,” “Arnott’s,” and “V8.”
About PFPMA
The Professional Footballs Players Mothers’ Association’s purpose is to educate and inform Mothers about the business of professional football; enhance the public image of professional football players, promote respect and fair play on and off the field, assist our sons in their charitable efforts in the communities from which they came and in which they work, and to provide volunteer representation in events in local communities to promote education by sharing the success of our sons and PFPMA.
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