Contacts:
The T: Joanne Heredia
(817) 215- 8708 (office)
Tarrant Area Food Bank: Andrea Helms
(817) 332-9177, ext. 120; (817) 657-9175 (cell)
For Immediate Release
Ride The T for a can Aug. 5 to help Food Bank ramp up low summer supplies
*Recession impact on Tarrant Area Food Bank greater in summer to feed children not in school
FORT WORTH (July 29, 2010) – Riding the bus in Fort Worth and Richland Hills will cost only a can or box of food on Thursday, August 5, when The T hosts its annual “Ride for a Can Day” to benefit Tarrant Area Food Bank.
One can of food may be redeemed for a one-way bus fare. Two canned goods will earn a free local “Day Pass” that can be used for unlimited rides that day on any of The T’s regular or express buses.
The Ride for a Can program is not valid for Mobility Impaired Services (MITS) or Trinity Railway Express (TRE) service. Cans may not be redeemed on the train and local Day Passes do not cover TRE, but only The T’s bus service.
“Tarrant Area Food Bank has seen the need for food increase nearly 25 percent this past year as the recession affected more and more families,” said Bo Soderbergh, executive director of the Food Bank. "Our partner food pantries continue to report increasing numbers of people seeking food aid and their needs are even greater during the summer time because of the addition of more children who normally receive free breakfast and lunch during the school year,” Soderbergh added.
Cans may be donated in exchange for fares on any T regular route bus, express bus or at one of two T facilities: the Intermodal Transportation Center (ITC) customer service counter at Jones & 9th Street or at The T administrative offices at 1600 E. Lancaster Ave.
“We hope a lot of people will take advantage of The T’s free bus rides in exchange for helping the Tarrant Area Food Bank meet the needs of those in our community who depend on it,” said Dick Ruddell, president of The T. “We are challenging our employees who bring in office donations and our riders to help us set a collections record,” he said.
For more information, T riders may call 817-215-8600 or visit www.the-t.com.
