Bene! Gourmet Pizza sponsors middle school food drive

EUGENE, Ore. (February 10, 2005) -- Bene and FOOD for Lane County teamed up with three local middle schools to help eliminate hunger in our community. Bene! Gourmet Pizza, FOOD for Lane County and Spencer Butte Middle School, Kelly Middle School and Kennedy Middle School. The three schools collectively donated 14,700 pounds of food to FOOD for Lane County – almost eight tons – which will provide approximately 7,350 meals for people in need.

The food collected was counted using a point system that assigns a number to food products based upon nutritional value and FOOD for Lane County’s current needs. A trophy has been awarded to Spencer Butte Middle School for collecting the highest average amount of points per student, and a certificate has been awarded to Kelly Middle School for having the highest percentage of students participating in the food drive. Kennedy Middle School also received a certificate for having the largest percent increase – 218 percent – over what the school collected during last year’s food drive. The class that collected the highest average points per student in each school received a pizza party from Bene.

Locally owned and operated, Bene! Gourmet Pizza strives to provide customers with outstanding food and excellent service. Bene! first opened its doors in 2000 and has since grown to three locations in Eugene and has more than 30 employees.

"We enjoyed being part of these food drives," said Kevin Cohen, president and CEO of Bene! Gourmet Pizza. "Partnering with a local food-related charity was a natural fit for us and the perfect way to give back to our community. It was encouraging and inspirational to see the students rise to the occasion and so generously contrubute to eliminating hunger in our community."

Contacts:

Deb Buchanan, Food Solicitor, FOOD for Lane County
(541) 343-2822
dbuchanan@foodforlanecounty.org

Bene! Gourmet Pizza
(541) 284-2702
www.benegourmet.com