Fighting Hunger in Our Community

My Plumber Heating and Air Seeks Partners to Fight Hunger

May 1, 2009 – Northern Va. and Suburban Md. My Plumber Heating and Air is justifiably proud of the more than 60,000 pounds of food it has collected for its neighbors in need over the past five years. The company’s Warm Hands and Full Hearts Food Drive, which ran seasonally and offered discount coupons in exchange for nonperishable food items, has been an unqualified success. Recently, however, company Vice President Mark Presgrave announced some changes to the program that are intended to expand its reach through partnerships with local organizations that have food pantries or feeding centers.
“We’ve proved that companies can give back to the neighborhood and have a positive impact. With more companies across the country asking for permission to use the Warm Hands and Full Hearts logo, the indicators are pretty good that others are taking our original plan and running with it,” Presgrave stated in his announcement. “The attention the web site at http://www.warmhandsandfullhearts.com/ generates for the plight of the hungry helped us realize that we should not keep counting food. Better to concentrate on getting more food back in the hands of those who need it,” he added. “So now we are looking for partners, such as churches and other organizations, interested in feeding the hungry.”
My Plumber Heating and Air has begun to pursue new food drive partners by creating a coupon that has My Plumber’s name and the name of the partnering organization, with an offer of a home cooling or home plumbing inspection at a discounted rate of $55 in return for a donation of five cans of food. The partnering organizations pass the coupons along to their members. When the coupons are redeemed, My Plumber collects the donated food and transports it to the partnering organization for distribution through a food pantry or feeding center. The partnering organization’s members receive the home system inspection they need at a discounted price, and the food collected reaches the hungry more efficiently through the partnering organization’s existing distribution mechanisms.
My Plumber is seeking partners throughout Northern Virginia and Suburban Maryland. Organizations with food pantries or feeding centers whose members might be interested in this program are encouraged to call My Plumber at 703-367-7781.

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For Further Information Contact:

Susan E. Phillips
Community Outreach Coordinator
Phone: 703-367-7976
Email: susan@myplumber.com