IBM Donates Laptops to Vermont Foodbank
Barre, VT, March 27, 2007 – Lending support to the Vermont Foodbank’s mission of gathering and sharing food and nurturing partnerships to end hunger in Vermont, IBM donated 30 laptop computers to the Foodbank to help improve service and efficiency within the food distribution system. The computers were placed with Vermont Foodbank Network Partners – food shelves, senior centers, shelters and other community food distribution sites – to better enable them to manage the ordering and distribution of food to those in need.
“When we learned what a vital link computers could be for the Vermont Foodbank’s Network Partners, IBM was immediately on board,” said Marie Houghton, Community Relations Manager for IBM in Vermont. “We’re happy to help the Foodbank and their partners – many of whom are volunteers – better handle management responsibilities connected to their service to the state’s hungry citizens.”
“Many of the food shelves throughout the state have no modern technology beyond phones and fax machines,” said Edward W. Fox, interim co-CEO of the Vermont Foodbank. “This hampers Network Partner communication and data management, not only in working with the Foodbank but in serving clients. IBM’s donation helps considerably and the Foodbank is grateful for the company’s generosity.”
About IBM Vermont
IBM is Vermont’s largest private employer with more than 5,800 employees. IBM Burlington designs and manufactures microprocessors and custom microchips for IBM’s product line and leading computer, communications and consumer electronics companies, including Nintendo, Kodak, Qualcomm, Cisco, Sony, Siemens and Motorola.
www.ibm.com
About the Vermont Foodbank
Located in Barre, the Vermont Foodbank is Vermont’s only food bank, and serves a network of 270 partners, consisting of food shelves, food pantries, senior centers, shelters and after-school programs, that assist 140,000 Vermonters each year. In 2006, the Vermont Foodbank distributed nearly 6.5 million pounds of food to its Network Partners around the state. Started in 1986, the Foodbank observed its 20th year of continuous operation last year. The Vermont Foodbank is a member of America's Second Harvest – The Nation's Food Bank Network (A2HN), the country’s largest charitable hunger-relief organization. For additional information about the Vermont Foodbank or to donate, please visit www.vtfoodbank.org. To volunteer, contact Patrick Gilbert at 802-477-4127.
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For More Information:
Judy Stermer
The Vermont Foodbank
(802) 477-4108
jstermer@secondharvest.org
