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Woodforest Charitable Foundation donates $1,500 to the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana

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GARY, IN – Woodforest Charitable Foundation makes a $1,500 contribution to the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana.  The donation will support the Food Bank’s Kids Café and BackPack Programs.

The Food Bank of Northwest Indiana was founded in 1982.  It was originally a barn, but has grown into a facility that acquires, stores and distributes 3.5 million pounds of food throughout Lake and Porter Counties.  For more than three decades, the Food Bank has served as a link for food relief to families, the elderly, children and other individuals in northwest Indiana.

The Food Bank of Northwest Indiana works with elementary and middle schools to provide food for children at risk of hunger by offering its BackPack Program.  The BackPack Program is designed to meet the needs of hungry children at times when other resources are not available, such as weekends and school vacations.  BackPacks are filled with food that the children take home on the weekends and holiday vacations.  The food is child-friendly, nonperishable and easily consumed.  The Food Bank currently serves over 200 children and packs over 3,600 backpacks with food.

The Food Bank also fights against childhood hunger by supporting the Kids Café Program.  The Kids Café Program provides free afterschool meals and snacks to low-income children through a variety of community locations where children already congregate, such as Boys & Girls Clubs, churches or public schools.  In addition to providing nutritious meals to kids, Kids Café programs also offer a safe place where, under the supervision of trustworthy staff, a child can get involved in educational, recreational and social activities.  “In 2010, the Foundation’s primary focus has been to support programs dedicated to serving children and individuals who are at risk of hunger and malnutrition,” said Kim Marling, Executive Director/Vice President of Woodforest Charitable Foundation.  “In light of this endeavor, The Woodforest Charitable Foundation and Woodforest Bank are pleased to support the Food Bank’s Kids Café and BackPack Programs, which provide healthy meals for children susceptible to hunger.”

For more information about the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana, please call (219) 980-1777, e-mail info@foodbanknwi.org or visit www.foodbanknwi.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.