Local Volunteers Support Feeding America® Food Banks at Third Annual Week of Joy in 70 Communities across the U.S. 

In partnership with the Joy in Childhood Foundation (formerly The Dunkin’ Donuts & Baskin-Robbins Community Foundation), Dunkin’ Donuts local franchisees, crewmembers and corporate employees have partnered with Vermont Foodbank to help fight child hunger in communities throughout the state of Vermont.  On Wednesday, October 19, Vermont Foodbank will join other Feeding America® member food banks across the country for the Joy in Childhood Foundation’s third annual National Week of Joy (formerly the Week of Service), taking place October 17 – 21, 2016. The Foundation anticipates that over 1,500 Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin-Robbins franchisees, crew members, and employees will volunteer upwards of 4,000 hours at approximately 70 events to provide hundreds of thousands of meals to kids and families in communities across the country.

A long-time supporter of fighting child hunger, the newly-rebranded Joy in Childhood Foundation’s re-focused mission is to provide the simple joys of childhood to sick and hungry kids. Through partnerships with children’s hospitals, food banks and nonprofit organizations directly committed to serving sick and hungry kids, the Joy in Childhood Foundation funds joyful environments, joyful experiences and joyful expressions to ensure that children whose lives are compromised by hunger or sickness have the support and essential services to find joy in their daily lives.

“Both Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin-Robbins are built on a heritage of joy, and it’s difficult to feel joy when one is hungry or hurting. Our franchisees recognize that helping to ensure the health and well-being of children is a vital part of strengthening the communities we serve. We are proud to partner Vermont Foodbank to support their critical work in relieving child hunger throughout Vermont,” said Karen Raskopf, Chief Communications Officer at Dunkin’ Brands and Co-Chair of the Joy in Childhood Foundation.

Throughout this year’s Week of Joy, Dunkin’ Donuts franchisees, crew members and corporate employees will collaborate with local hunger-relief organizations, like Vermont Foodbank to support efforts towards hunger relief for children and their families. In Barre, supporters will help sort food and pack boxes that will be shared with families struggling with hunger.

“Currently 34,000 children live in households where they are unable to consistently access enough nutritious food for a healthy life,” said John Sayles, Vermont Foodbank CEO. “Our partnership with the Joy in Childhood Foundation and the commitment of Dunkin’ Dunkin’ Donuts franchisees and employees make a positive difference as we work together to meet the needs of kids facing hunger in our community and help them be healthy and grow strong.”

The Joy in Childhood Foundation has been a supporter of Feeding America, the largest domestic hunger-relief organization, since 2007 and partners with local food banks nationwide. This is the third year of a $1 million, three-year grant with Feeding America that supports critical initiatives nationwide to help alleviate childhood hunger, including the Backpack Program and School Pantry Program. As part of this gift, Vermont Foodbank received a $20,000 grant for its PackPack program earlier in 2016.  Vermont Foodbank will receive an additional $10,000 donation in October, as part of the Foundation’s annual Week of Joy.

To learn more about the Joy in Childhood Foundation Week of Joy, and opportunities to support Vermont Foodbank, please visit www.dunkinbrands.com/foundation and www.vtfoodbank.org.

 

About the Joy in Childhood Foundation
The Joy in Childhood Foundation provides the simple joys of childhood to sick and hungry kids. The Foundation brings together a wide range of stakeholders—including franchisees, crew members, employees, partners and guests —and partners with food banks, children’s hospitals, and nonprofit organizations directly committed to serving sick and hungry kids to fund joyful environments, joyful experiences and joyful expressions to ensure that children whose lives are compromised by hunger or sickness have the support and essential services to find joy in their daily lives. Since launching in 2006, the Joy in Childhood Foundation (formerly The Dunkin Donuts & Baskin-Robbins Community Foundation), has granted more than $11 million to hundreds of national and local charities across the country.