Ford Driving Out Hunger by Delivering Thanksgiving Day Meals to Homebound Seniors

DETROIT - Nov. 24, 2015 - PRLog -- Ford Motor Company is again teaming up with the Detroit Area Agency on Aging (DAAA) for the eighth consecutive year as part of the Holiday Meals on Wheels Thanksgiving program. Their efforts will ensure more than 6,000 area homebound seniors can enjoy a Thanksgiving Day meal.

Ford’s donation of $50,000 to DAAA not only goes to supply the food for Thanksgiving Meals, but it provides additional funding for the daily meal service throughout the year. Additionally, Ford employees and their families will come together on Wednesday, Nov. 25, to assemble freshly prepared meals at Valley Services at 1980 Bagley in Detroit, starting at 8 a.m.

“Ford Motor Company has provided more than 40,000 Thanksgiving meals through this program over the past eight years,” said Pamela Alexander, director, Community Development, Ford Motor Company Fund. “We believe it is vital to provide healthy meals not just during the holidays, but year round, which is why Ford invests in hunger relief programs here in Southeast Michigan and throughout the U.S.”

Ford Motor Company Fund helps strengthen communities by assisting hunger relief agencies year round and in many different ways – from Ford volunteers working at food banks to Ford’s nationwide network of more than 50 mobile food pantries that have distributed more than 6 million meals during the past five years.

Last month, Ford Fund and dealers in New England announced they will invest $2 million during the next five years to feed more people in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont. Ford Fund and Northwest Ford dealers are partnering once again to help feed hungry kids during the holiday period with grants topping $100,000 to be shared among 66 Boys & Girls Clubs.

“Thanksgiving is a time to be thankful and share with those we love and care about – especially our seniors, who are often alone on the holiday,” said Paul Bridgewater, DAAA president and CEO.  “That’s why we are thankful for the Ford Motor Company Fund. They are driving away hunger on Thanksgiving with their generous donation that enables us to deliver fresh, hot traditional Thanksgiving meals to 6,000 seniors. It is not only a donation and the volunteers they’re supplying to DAAA, but a gift to our entire community.”

Each year, over 48 million people including 16 million children struggle with hunger in the United States. This holiday season Ford will also partner with The Parade Company to raise funds for Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeastern Michigan.

Ford Volunteer Corps is celebrating 10 years of community service that has contributed more than one million hours of support in 48 countries around the world.

# # #

About Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services

Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services works with community and global partners to advance driving safety, education and community life. Ford Motor Company Fund has operated for more than 65 years with ongoing funding from Ford Motor Company. Ford Driving Skills for Life is free, interactive, hands-on safety training focused on skill development and driving techniques, while addressing inexperience, distractions and impaired driving.  Innovation in education is encouraged through Ford Blue Oval Scholars, Ford Next Generation Learning and other inspiring programs that enhance high school learning and provide college scholarships and university grants. The Ford Volunteer Corps enlists more than 30,000 Ford employees and retirees each year to work on local projects that strengthen their communities and improve people’s lives in more than 40 countries around the world.

About Detroit Area Agency on Aging

DAAA is a private, non-profit agency that serves older persons age 60 years and over, adults with disabilities and caregivers in the City of Detroit, the five Grosse Pointes, Hamtramck, Harper Woods and Highland Park. Services are funded through the federal Older Americans Act of 1965 as amended and state Older Michiganians Act funding as well as other resources. http://www.DetroitSeniorSolution.com