FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:

Kate Snyder

East End Cooperative Ministry

412.361.5549 ext.422

East End Cooperative Ministry

Rallies Community to Have a Heart for Hunger

Pittsburgh, PA February 11, 2009 – 40 local congregations, 6 businesses, 4 schools and hundreds of individuals (so far!) are joining forces with East End Cooperative Ministry (EECM) to combat hunger in the East End of Pittsburgh during EECM's annual Have a Heart for Hunger campaign. The economic downturn has resulted in dramatically increased demand at Food Pantries throughout the City. At EECM, there has been a 20% increase over the last six months in families needing food.

EECM invites the community to join the Have a Heart for Hunger campaign! Ways to get involved include:

Make a Donation – All financial contributions to the campaign will be matched by an anonymous donor, up to $30,000 and will benefit EECM's Hunger Programs. For every dollar donated, EECM gets two!

Organize a Food Drive – Food drives are being hosted by individuals, churches, synagogues, banks, schools, grocery stores, and a variety of other businesses to collect donations for the EECM Food Pantry. We accept donations of any non-perishable food items.

Eat Pancakes – Join the EECM Young Professionals for Pancakes in the PM, a benefit dinner at P&G Pamela's in the Strip on Thursday, March 12 from 5:30 to 8:00 pm. Suggested donation is $25 and will benefit the Have a Heart for Hunger campaign.

More information about the Have a Heart for Hunger campaign is available on the EECM website at www.eecm.org/heart.htm.

About East End Cooperative Ministry

EECM is a non-profit, interfaith human services organization. Since 1970, EECM has provided direct services to the homeless, the hungry, the elderly, and the at-risk children and youth in Pittsburgh's economically distressed East End neighborhoods. EECM programs include, but are not limited to, Meals on Wheels, Food Pantry, Soup Kitchen, Men's Emergency Shelter, 2 transitional housing programs, a non-medical respite care program, in-school and after-school outreach programs, and Summer Day Camp.

For more information: contact EECM at 412.361.5549, ext. 422, email eecm@eecm.org or visit www.eecm.org and www.eecmblog.org.

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