Over 57,000 pounds of food collected in Defeat Hunger Bowl II

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- This January, Wisconsinites teamed up with Green Bay wide receiver James Jones, Walmart, Sam’s Club and Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin in the Defeat Hunger Bowl to help provide food for people struggling with hunger in eastern Wisconsin. Together, they collected 57,617 pounds of food.

Throughout the month of January, nonperishable food items were collected at over 100 Walmart and Sam’s Club stores in the state. Jones appeared at Walmart stores in Milwaukee and Green Bay to help rally fans and collect donations.

“I was proud to partner with this campaign and want all the people who donated to know what a big difference they made in the lives of those struggling with hunger right here in Wisconsin. I hope everyone continues to support this cause so that we can Defeat Hunger once and for all," Jones said.

Additional corporate partners involved in presenting the Defeat Hunger Bowl include Kraft, Mondelez, Coca Cola, Bimbo Bakery, and Campbell’s.

“We’re very grateful for our partnership with Walmart, Sam’s Club and James Jones. They bring much needed awareness to the issue of hunger in eastern Wisconsin through their support of the Defeat Hunger Bowl food drive. During a time when many people are faced with the difficult decision of heating their homes or providing food for their families, this effort will help us provide hope in the form of food to those struggling with hunger," Bonnie Bellehumeur, president of Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin said.

330,000 people in eastern Wisconsin rely on food supplied by Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin each year. The food bank is the largest, private, nonprofit distributor of food in the state. Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin distributes more than 18 million pounds of food annually to 1,000 food pantries, meal programs and shelters throughout eastern Wisconsin.

Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin is a member of Feeding America, which is consistently ranked as one of the most efficient charities, out of the country’s 100 largest charities, by Forbes magazine. Since 1982, Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin has distributed nearly 300 million pounds of food.

To learn more about hunger in Wisconsin, visit www.feedingamericawi.org.