DETROIT – For the 12th consecutive year, Ford Motor Company and Newman’s Own, Inc. are partnering with Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization, to donate Ford refrigerated trucks filled with Newman’s Own food products. Food banks in four regions are receiving trucks this year including Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeastern Michigan.

With this year’s donation of four Ford F-550 trucks, a total of 107 Ford trucks and vans have been donated to Feeding America food banks to help deliver nutritious perishable foods.

“While there are encouraging signs that we are coming back from the tough economic times of the past several years, many families still are struggling,” said Bill Ford, executive chairman, Ford Motor Company. “This partnership is important because it not only provides food to families in need, it also contributes to building stronger communities and a better world.”

The partnership between the two companies began 12 years ago when Paul Newman reached out to see how Ford Motor Company could join with Newman’s Own to address the critical need for fresh and nutritious food for families facing hunger. Since then Feeding America has been able to deliver more than 209 million meals to families across the country.

“Meeting the needs of those who don’t have access to perishable foods was important to Paul Newman at the beginning of the program, and now, with an increased nationwide need, it’s become even more critical,” said Tom Indoe, president and chief operating officer of Newman’s Own. “Newman’s Own is proud to be part of this partnership.”

The refrigerated trucks allow for delivery of perishable food to hard-to-reach communities that often are underserved, as well as urban and suburban areas where there is an urgent need for nutritious food. Besides Gleaners, other food banks receiving trucks this fall are Feeding America San Diego, Feeding South Florida in Miami and Los Angeles Regional Food Bank.

“Some of the largest increases in food need are in suburban Detroit communities, many of which lack a strong network of emergency food providers,” says W. DeWayne Wells, president of Gleaners. “We’re grateful to Ford and Newman’s Own for this donation, and for continuing to strengthen the emergency food network here and across the country.”

“We have seen a dramatic rise in the number of people raising their hands seeking food assistance from the Feeding America network. Today, we are feeding 37 million people each year – that’s an increase of 1 million people from four years ago,” said Matt Knott, interim president and CEO of Feeding America. “Ford Motor Company and Newman’s Own have been longtime, generous supporters of our mission. We continue to build partnerships like this to help our food banks provide more donated food to help feed more people in need.“