Hunger

Hunger is a persistent challenge for hundreds of millions of people worldwide, even in the developed world, including countries in Europe and North America . The UPS Foundation began its engagement in this area through its support in the growth of the prepared and perishable food rescue field. Many of these community-based programs are responsible for collecting and distributing fresh and cooked foods, donated by food service establishments, such as restaurants, hotels, caterers, concessionaires and grocers, to local social welfare agencies providing meals to people in need.  Beginning in 2004, The UPS Foundation refocused its efforts to combat hunger to support organizations in the U.S. that address obesity and other health consequences of hunger.  While seemingly contrary, hunger and obesity do often co-exist.  Since 1989, The UPS Foundation has contributed $18.7 million dollars to support food rescue programs. Additionally, since 2004, more than two million dollars has supported organizations addressing hunger, nutrition and obesity. Initiatives  The National Collaboration to Reduce Hunger and Improve Nutrition  Prepared and Perishable Food Rescue Initiative Awards/Recognition In 2005, America’s Second Harvest named The UPS Foundation its "2005 Grantmaker of the Year."   The Children’s Hunger Alliance in Ohio named UPS its Corporate Supporter of the Year in 2005. The Foundation will continue to help get nutritious food to more people in need of food assistance and to support efforts to counteract the root causes of hunger. Initiatives In 2004, The UPS Foundation broadened our efforts to address how hunger relates to nutrition and obesity issues.  In the U.S. , The Foundation’s new initiative is The National Collaboration to Reduce Hunger and Improve Nutrition. Case Studies

Grantee: The Campus Kitchens Project Initiative: National Collaboration to Reduce Hunger and Improve Nutrition The Campus Kitchens Project (CKP), a national initiative of DC Central Kitchen, was launched in 2001 and is a network of college-based “Campus Kitchens” that work to fight hunger and its root causes.  With five locations in 2004, the UPS grant will help grow the number of locations to at least eight by the end of 2006.  Volunteers work out of university kitchens to prepare meals using un-served food collected from on-campus dining facilities, as well as donations from local food banks.  CKP sites operate fresh produce recovery efforts to ensure access to a steady stream of nutritious foods.  In cities across the United States , the program brings colleges and universities together with student volunteers, on-campus dining services professionals and community organizations to combat hunger.  In 2004, the five local Campus Kitchens served more than 105,000 meals through 19,000 volunteer hours.  Approximately 1,000 volunteers across the country are engaged in the program.   Learn More about the Campus Kitchens Project.

Grantee: Share Our Strength Initiative: National Collaboration to Reduce Hunger and Improve Nutrition Share Our Strength is one of the nation’s leading anti-hunger organizations, bringing individuals and organizations together to fight hunger and poverty. UPS supports its flagship program, Operation Frontline, which provides cooking and budgeting classes for low-income families.  With The UPS Foundation grant, Operation Frontline will expand to two more sites. Since its inception in 1993, more than 31,000 people in 14 states have participated in Operation Frontline classes.  An additional 89,000 have received nutrition information through program events. With the grant from The UPS Foundation, Share Our Strength has introduced a recipe contest for the Operation Frontline chefs and will assemble a book of “best practices” for future instructors.  Classes are led by volunteer chefs who come from diverse backgrounds and have experience in either food service or nutrition instruction.  Class participants are shown how to work with healthy, low-cost recipes.  For more information on Share Our Strength, please visit www.strength.org.

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From 1989 to 2004, The Foundation supported food banks and local feeding programs through our Prepared and Perishable Food Rescue Initiative.  Serving 150 communities across the United States , The Foundation helped recover and distribute more than 300 million pounds of food to the hungry.  Case Study

Grantee: Bethany House of Laredo Initiative: Prepared and Perishable Food Rescue Through a grant from The UPS Foundation, the Bethany House Sunset Meals Program in Laredo , Texas supported the establishment of a program through which rescued food is turned into balanced meals for distribution to low-income latchkey children residing in area public housing communities. Children now receive meals while they participate in structured after-school activities focused on alcohol and drug prevention and positive youth development. The Sunset Meals Program now reaches a very needy population (low-income, latchkey children) previously underserved by area feeding programs. The project translated into the distribution of approximately 41,000 pounds of nutritious food during the 12-month grant period.

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