For Immediate Release Monday, October 05, 2007
FIGHTING HUNGER HELPS THE ECONOMY AND IS A PRO-BUSINESS ACTIVITY
A key message of the Third Annual Statewide Business to Business Expo, sponsored by the South Kingstown Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, October 3rd from 1:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the URI Ryan Center in Kingston, is that fighting hunger helps the economy and is a pro-business activity.
Robert Weygand, Vice President for Administration at URI and Paula Spirito, Vice President at The Washington Trust Company Narragansett branch, serve as Co-Chairs of the 2007 Business to Business Expo and are pleased to announce this will be a 'Hunger Free' community event, coordinated with the Hunger Task Force, a joint venture between the Feinstein Center for a Hunger Free America at the University of Rhode Island and the Jonnycake Center of Peace Dale. "There are so many ways in which hunger affects our economy and the health of local business," explained Weygand. "We are just beginning to explore the variety of ways the business community can support our community-wide 'Hungry Free' event to the benefit of all."
"We want to create a new tradeshow experience, with some non-traditional features at this year's Expo, so we're asking attendees to bring non-perishable food items for collection at the entrance to the Ryan Center as they come into the Expo event," explained Spirito. "The Hunger Task Force will then distribute all the donations to the Jonnycake Center of Peace Dale for their food bank and distribution to other local service agencies.
"We are thrilled to include support for this effort to educate the business community about the economic impact of hunger at the Expo," explained Darlene Evans, President and CEO of the South Kingstown Chamber of Commerce. "A 'Hunger Free' agenda does help the economy and spurs local small business.
We have learned, for instance, that for every federal tax dollar spent locally on the Food Stamp Program, an additional $1.78 enters our local economy and boosts our local retail businesses. We hope the food collected at the Expo will be distributed to people who currently are facing a food crisis. Working with the Hunger Task Force on this has provided us with a win-win opportunity!"
The Hunger Task Force, with representatives of URI's Feinstein Center for a Hunger Free America and the Jonnycake Center of Peace Dale, will have an informational table at the Business Expo to discuss the ways in which their targeted programs help our local economy as well as the many ways businesses and concerned citizens can play a vital role in eradicating the blight of hunger among our neighbors.
The Statewide Business to Business Expo is free to attendees with a business card or the completion of a registration card at the door. Non-perishable food donations will be collected at the entrance to the Ryan Center on Wednesday, October 3, 2007 between 1:00 and 7:00 p.m. For more information, contact the South Kingstown Chamber of Commerce at 783-2801 or info@skchamber.com.
Contact: Darlene Evans, President/CEO, South Kingstown Chamber of Commerce
Phone: 401-783-2801
devans@skchamber.com