July 10, 2009
Contact: Annika Stensson (202) 973-3677, Derrek J. Hull (312) 853-2522

(Chicago) The National Restaurant Association announced today that exhibiting companies at its 2009 Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show – held May 16-19 at McCormick Place in Chicago – donated more than 66,000 pounds of top quality food to the Greater Chicago Food Depository (GCFD) after the event. The donated food provided 49,500 meals to the men, women and children who rely on the 600 GCFD member soup kitchens to provide emergency and supplemental meals. The Association and GCFD have partnered to facilitate food donations from the NRA Show for more than 20 years.

“Exemplifying the National Restaurant Association’s vision to enhance the quality of life for all we serve is the generosity of the restaurants, vendors, suppliers and manufacturers who exhibited at NRA Show 2009 and collectively donated tens of thousands of pounds of food to those in need,” said Dawn Sweeney, President and CEO of the National Restaurant Association. “As the largest restaurant and hospitality industry trade show in the U.S., we are committed to giving back to the local community and helping to feed the hungry.”

“We are so grateful for the National Restaurant Association’s longtime support of our hunger-relief efforts,” said Kate Maehr, executive director of the Greater Chicago Food Depository. “This substantial food donation is critical as we face a 35 percent increase in the number of people turning to pantries. Thousands of individuals and families in Cook County will receive food as a result.”

The donated food was distributed through a network of more than 600 qualified GCFD member agencies, which include pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, day care centers and senior living facilities.

The Greater Chicago Food Depository, Chicago’s food bank, is a nonprofit food distribution and training center providing food for hungry people while striving to end hunger in our community. The Food Depository distributes donated and purchased food through a network of 600 pantries, soup kitchens and shelters to 500,000 adults and children in Cook County every year. Last year, the Food Depository distributed 46 million pounds of nonperishable food and fresh produce, dairy products and meat, the equivalent of 95,000 meals every day. The Food Depository’s programs and services for children, older adults and the unemployed and underemployed address the root causes of hunger. For more information, log onto www.chicagosfoodbank.org or call 773-247-FOOD.

The annual National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show is the largest single gathering of restaurant, foodservice and lodging professionals. NRA Show 2010 will be held May 22-25, at McCormick Place in Chicago. The event attracts attendees and visitors from all 50 states and 100+ countries, and showcases more products, services, innovative ideas and other growth opportunities than any other industry event. For more information, visit the Show Web site at www.restaurant.org/show.