Harrisburg, July 12, 2010 – Joining USDA employees across the country, employees in USDA Rural Development offices across the state are celebrating their participation in the national Feds Feed Families food drive. Rural Development employees throughout Pennsylvania collected 480 pounds of non-perishable food items during the past two weeks and donated those items to local food banks. These organizations often find a greater need for donations in the face of rising demand. Needy families turn to food banks and others to help put food on the table. “Rural Development employees work every day in their commitment to the future of our rural communities and residents, and their generosity in participating in the food drive demonstrates their spirit in helping families in need,” said Tom Williams, Pennsylvania State Director.
USDA helps feed needy families in several ways. For example, its Summer Food Service Program helps fill the gap of the National School Lunch and School Breakfast programs. On February 12, 2009, USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the establishment of the People’s Garden project on the bi-centennial of President Lincoln’s birth. Last month, Secretary Vilsack announced that all 50 states have a People’s Garden. These are accomplished by a community effort and maintained through the collaboration of multiple agencies. To view the locations of these public gardens, go to www.pubinfo.usda.gov/garden. And to learn more about People’s Gardens, go to the USDA national web site at www.usda.gov.
USDA Rural Development is the lead federal agency for rural development needs. It offers financial and technical assistance in loans and grants to individuals, businesses and communities. USDA Rural Development programs include funding for day care centers, fire trucks and other community facility projects; the purchase, construction or repair of homes; loans and guarantees to rural businesses to save or create jobs and renewable energy; and loans and grants for water and sewer utility projects. For more information on programs offered by USDA Rural Development, contact the Pennsylvania State Office at (717) 237-2299 or visit its web site at www.rurdev.usda.gov/pa.
User photo:
