Macy's West Employees Kick Off Annual BAG HUNGER CAMPAIGN
SAN FRANCISCO, CA, May 11, 2006 — For the past eight years, Macy’s West employees have worked together to battle hunger in the United States, particularly among school-age children through the “Bag Hunger” food drive campaign. Last year, Macy’s employees collected more than one million pounds of food to benefit America’s Second Harvest. This year’s campaign kicks off on National Hunger Awareness Day on June 6 and runs through June 22.
With this year’s Macy’s West’s “Bag Hunger” campaign, employees aim to collect 1.6 million pounds of food, which will be donated to local food banks. “More than eight million children seek assistance through food pantries and soup kitchens. The dedication and generosity of the Macy’s West employees will make a difference in the lives of the hungry people in each of the communities we serve” said Michael Wirkkala, Macy’s West Chief Financial Officer and “Chief Food Officer” for the campaign.
Each year, Macy’s West employees contribute money, food and time to community agencies. By providing direct service opportunities to employees the company is able to expand its impact on the “Bag Hunger” campaign, and with the addition of the May Company stores to Macy's West territory that impact will continue to grow. For the month of May, Macy’s West employees participated in fifty hunger-related service projects, ranging from sorting food at local food banks to serving meals in soup kitchens and food pantries to donating food to the “Bag Hunger” food drive.
Macy’s West’s commitment to the program can be seen in the numbers. Last
year’s “Bag Hunger” food drive campaign had a goal of 32 pounds of food per
person, but employees far exceeded the goal with an average of more than 46
pounds per person. The top performing Macy’s West stores in 2005
were: Southland (Hayward, California) with 45,704 pounds of food exceeding
their store goal by 652% (an average of 209 pounds per person); Kukui Grove
(Hawaii), 19,406 pounds exceeding their goal by 518% (an average of 166 pounds
per person); and Hilo (Hawaii), 24,500 pounds exceeding their goal by 510% (an
average of 163 pounds per person).
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Macy’s West Collects Over 1 Million Pounds of Food To “Bag Hunger”
Macy's West, a division of Federated headquartered in San Francisco, operates 174 stores in seven states and Guam, with annual sales of more than $4 billion. At Macy's we are committed to supporting the communities where we live and work. In 2005, we raised and donated over $12 million in community support through our fundraising efforts.
About America's Second Harvest — The Nation's Food Bank Network
America's Second Harvest — The Nation's Food Bank Network is the nation's
largest domestic hunger-relief organization with a Network of more than 200
regional Member food banks and food-rescue programs serving all 50 states and
Puerto Rico. The Network secures and distributes nearly two billion pounds
of donated food and grocery products annually. The America's Second
Harvest Network supports approximately 50,000 feeding agencies nationwide,
including food pantries, soup kitchens, women's shelters, and Kids Cafes.
These local organizations provide emergency food assistance to 25 million hungry
Americans, including more than nine million children and nearly three million
seniors each year. For more information on America’s Second Harvest, visit
www.secondharvest.org.
Federated Department Stores, Inc. is one of the nation's leading retailers. Federated operated 866 stores in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Guam and Puerto Rico as of January 28, 2006 under the names of Macy's, Bloomingdale's, Famous-Barr, Filene's, Foley's, Hecht's, Kaufmann's, L.S. Ayres, Marshall Field's, Meier & Frank, Robinsons-May, Strawbridge's, and The Jones Store. Federated also operates macys.com, bloomingdales.com and Bloomingdale's By Mail. Federated also operated 56 Lord & Taylor and 735 bridal and formalwear stores in 47 states and Puerto Rico as of January 28, 2006 under the names of David's Bridal, After Hours Formalwear and Priscilla of Boston.
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Contact:
Ross Fraser
America’s Second Harvest
(312) 641-6422
Macy’s West
Media Relations
415/393-3455
