(Harrisburg, PA) – The Central Pennsylvania Food Bank recently received a $10,000 donation from Capital Wine & Spirits LLC – one of the largest wholesaler/brokers of fine wine and spirits in Pennsylvania and a member of the Charmer Sunbelt Group - on behalf of Capital’s associates and the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board. (No public funds were used in this donation.) The donation will enable the Food Bank to purchase and distribute 1,000 turkeys for the holiday season.

At the check presentation, Mark Littles, President, Capital Wine & Spirits LLC and Patrick J. Stapleton III, PLCB Chairman, encouraged residents of Central PA and other businesses/organizations to pitch in and help the Food Bank achieve its goal of providing 4,000 turkeys to the nearly 500 member agencies that serve people who are hungry through the Food Bank’s 27-county service area. Following the check presentation ceremony, associates from Capital Wine & Spirits volunteered at the Food Bank and packed boxes of mixed groceries for holiday distribution.

Each year the Food Bank receives thousands of requests for frozen turkeys during the holiday season. To meet demand, the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank kicked-off their annual Turkey Drive on October 30 – with an overall goal of 4,000 turkeys. 

The Food Bank distributes frozen turkeys (as well as the side dishes that make a holiday meal complete) to hungry families during the holiday season, through a network of agencies in 27 Pennsylvania counties. Agencies such as soup kitchens, food pantries, shelters and senior citizen programs will either directly distribute the turkeys or prepare turkeys onsite to serve their clients.

The public can donate frozen turkeys, as well as the ingredients for side dishes at the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank office at 3908 Corey Road, Harrisburg during the following hours:

Weekdays, October 30 – December 30 – 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Saturday, November 7 – 9 a.m. – noon

Saturday, November 14 – 9 a.m. – noon

Saturday, December 12 – 9 a.m. - noon

Area Giant Food Stores shoppers may also request that their BonusCard Turkey ExtraReward certificates be donated to the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank at their local Giant.

Smooth Jazz 92.7 is also partnering with the Food Bank to help promote the annual Turkey Drive – through their Turkey Drive Tour 2009. Fridays beginning November 6th through December 18th, Smooth Jazz 92.7 will broadcast from a different Giant Food Store location from 4 – 6 p.m. and help collect frozen turkeys, non-perishable food and monetary donations. Smooth Jazz will also sponsor a Butterball Blues Brunch on Sunday, November 22 at Stock’s on 2nd Street in Harrisburg from Noon – 3 p.m. Listeners can find up-to-date information at 92.7 FM or centralpafoodbank.org.

The Central Pennsylvania Food Bank is a not-for-profit organization that is able to reduce hunger in 27 counties across Pennsylvania, by working with nearly 500 local agencies to provide food to 35,000 people in need every week. For more information on the Food Bank and its mission to reduce hunger in Pennsylvania, visit www.centralpafoodbank.org

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