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Woodforest Charitable Foundation donates $3,000 to Dare to Care Food Bank

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LOUISVILLE, KY – Dare to Care Food Bank receives a $3,000 donation in support of their Kids Café and Backpack Buddy Programs.

Dare to Care Food Bank was founded in 1971, when a stunned Louisville community was confronted with the horrifying news that right in their own city, on Thanksgiving Day, a nine year old boy had died of starvation.

In the past year, Dare to Care Food Bank distributed 13.1 million pounds of food, impacting over 190,000 people at risk of hunger.  In addition to stocking the shelves of 300 partner food pantries, emergency kitchens, and shelters, the Food Bank operates special programs such as Kids Café and Backpack Buddy.

The Kids Café is a safe place where children, up to 18 years old, can get a nutritious after-school meal for free.  Kids Cafés are located in churches, community centers, YMCAs, and Boys and Girls Clubs in areas with a high rate of families living below the poverty line.  In addition to a nutritious meal, activities such as tutoring, nutrition education, computers, sports, and arts and crafts are offered at the sites.  Dare to Care Food Bank currently operates 14 Kids Cafés that serve meals up to five times a week, year-round.

Backpack Buddy is a program that provides “kid friendly” foods to schoolchildren from low-income families on weekends when they do not receive free or reduced-price school lunches and school breakfasts.  Each Friday, a teacher or school counselor will fill up the students’ backpacks with nutritious food for the children to take home and enjoy.  On Monday, the backpacks are returned to the schools.  The program currently operates in 12 schools in Jefferson County and 4 schools in Bullitt County.

“Woodforest Charitable Foundation’s support will provide the nutrition necessary for children to grow, learn, and ultimately succeed,” said Jackie Keating, Chief Development Officer of Dare to Care Food Bank.  “We are so thankful for Woodforest’s generosity and kindness.”

For more information about Dare to Care Food Bank, please call (502) 966-3821 or visit www.daretocare.org.

The Woodforest Charitable Foundation was created by Woodforest National Bank in 2005 as a direct result of its desire to support and invest in the communities in which it serves.  The Foundation is creating a legacy of commitment to those in need, enriching lives and communities through dedicated leadership and faithful administration by providing funding to qualifying 501(c)(3) charities.  For additional information regarding The Woodforest Charitable Foundation, call (832) 375-CARE (2273) or visit the Foundation’s website at www.woodforestcharitablefoundation.org.

Celebrating 30 years of service and ranked among the top earning banks in the United States, the Woodforest family of banks currently has assets of approximately $3.2 billion and services more than 850,000 customers with branches in excess of 750 throughout seventeen states:  Texas, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia.  For information about Woodforest National Bank, please call 832-375-2000 or visit the bank’s website at www.woodforest.com.