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Orchestras Feeding America 2010  |
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For the second year in a row, the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra has joined in partnership with the League of American Orchestras (LAO) and Feeding America for “Orchestras Feeding America 2010,” the national initiative to collect food for those in need. “We are committed to addressing this crucial issue of hunger in our area, and are proud to be part of such an enormous national effort,” said RPO President & CEO Charles Owens.
In conjunction with this project, www.americanorchestras.org/utilities/orchestras_feeding_america_2010.htm, the RPO will be working with Rochester’s Foodlink to collect and distribute food items throughout the community. From now through April 10, anyone dropping off 10 non-perishable food items to the RPO Box Office (108 East Avenue) will be given a voucher for a pair of free tickets for the following RPO Philharmonics concerts through this season—Orchestra Fireworks! (March 11/13), Ravishing Rachmaninoff (April 29/May 1), or Berlioz Blockbuster (May 6/8)—or a pair of tickets for the Symphony 201 concert, Theme and Variations Featuring Misha Dichter (Sunday, April 18). Barrels will be available for drop-offs during regular RPO Box Office hours, Monday-Saturday, 10:00 am-5:00 pm (non-concert Saturdays, 10:00 am-3:00 pm) to be picked up by Foodlink at the end of every week during the drive.
During its initiative last year, the RPO collected more than 3,075 pounds of food in a little more than one month, serving approximately 2,000 meals through Foodlink, and gave away more than 300 concert vouchers. In 2009, with more than 250 orchestras representing all 50 states, Orchestras Feeding America was the single largest orchestra project serving communities nationwide, collecting over 200,000 pounds of food for local communities, according to the LAO.
Foodlink is a Feeding America regional food bank, which rescues and redistributes nearly 10 million pounds of food annually to a network of 500 member agencies in a 10-county area in Central and Western New York. The Foodlink Food Bank works with area food retailers, manufacturers and wholesalers to acquire, sort, store, and redistribute food to its member charity programs – especially soup kitchens, shelters and emergency food pantries. Foodlink also provides food to hundreds of non-emergency programs such as group homes, day cares, senior centers, and camps.
Most needed food includes:
- dry and canned soup
- rice and pasta
- powdered/canned milk
- macaroni & cheese
- cereal
- peanut butter
- beans
- canned fruit and vegetables
- tuna and canned meats
- fruit juices/sip-sized juices
Nationally, in 2008, 49.1 million Americans lived in food insecure households—32.4 million adults and 16.7 million children. Locally, more than 94,000 men, women, and children turn to Foodlink and its network every year for food assistance. Thirty-eight percent of those served are children, and five percent are seniors. Nearly 35 percent of the households include one working adult, and 22 percent of the people served reside in the suburbs.
For more information about helping the RPO in this important collaboration, call 585-454-7311 x221.
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