''Dinner is on Us'' Mobile Pantry Events Coming to Wisconsin During Hunger Action Month

MILWAUKEE, Wis.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin and UnitedHealthcare are delivering free, healthy food to more than 16,000 people in 11 counties across the state.

“That means some eastern Wisconsin families are not earning enough to feed their families and pay rent or a mortgage.”

During a 10-day road trip to 10 Wisconsin counties (Dodge, Jefferson, Fond du Lac, Sheboygan, Manitowoc, Calumet, Portage, Wood, Marathon and Outagamie), volunteers, including UnitedHealthcare employees, will visit many community- and faith-based organizations to feed about 16,000 people.

A mobile pantry truck filled with vegetables, proteins, whole wheat pasta and recipes will drive to each location where volunteers will hand-deliver the food to people who request it.

“UnitedHealthcare is partnering with Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin to ensure people throughout the state have access to fresh, nutritious food. September is Hunger Action Month, and through these community partnerships we have the opportunity to help people during a challenging economy access critical health resources and services across Wisconsin,” said Jeffrey Nohl, president of UnitedHealthcare Community Plan in Wisconsin.

Since 2006, Feeding America has made an effort to increase the amount of nutritious food distributed to local food pantries, meal programs and seniors. According to a recent study, the food bank has experienced a 40-percent increase in the number of people relying on the organization for food. The 2010 Hunger Study also found:

Nearly 330,000 people, including more than 105,000 children and 32,000 seniors, each year are at risk for hunger in Eastern Wisconsin;
More than half of adults surveyed have missed or cut back on meals in the past year because they did not have enough money to buy food;
More than a third of respondents have had to choose between buying food and paying rent or mortgage;
Nearly 60 percent ate less than they should have to stay healthy because they did not have enough money to buy food in the last year.

“The survey also told us that even people who are employed and in some cases receiving assistance from the government are facing food insecurity,” said Bonnie Bellehumeur, president of Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin. “That means some eastern Wisconsin families are not earning enough to feed their families and pay rent or a mortgage.”

About Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin
330,000 people in Wisconsin rely on food supplied by Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin. The food bank is the largest, private, nonprofit distributor of food in the state. Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin distributes over 18 million pounds of food annually to 1,000 food pantries, meal programs and shelters throughout the state. Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin is affiliated with Feeding America, which is consistently ranked as one of the most efficient charities, out of the country’s 100 largest charities, by Forbes magazine. Since 1982, Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin has distributed nearly 300 million pounds of food. To learn more about hunger in Wisconsin, log on to www.feedingamericawi.org.

About UnitedHealthcare
UnitedHealthcare is dedicated to helping people nationwide live healthier lives by simplifying the health care experience, meeting consumer health and wellness needs, and sustaining trusted relationships with care providers. The company offers the full spectrum of health benefit programs for individuals, employers and Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. UnitedHealthcare serves more than 38 million people and is one of the businesses of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH), a diversified Fortune 50 health and well-being company.