Six GATX rail cars have been decorated with the Feeding America message, “1 in 4 children in America struggles with hunger. Join us and donate at feedingamerica.org.” The custom-designed ConAgra Mills rail cars will travel across the U.S., covering more than 25,000 miles of track annually each, said Neil Hartzell, transportation director for ConAgra Mills. Hartzell developed the car messaging idea and worked with GATX on its implementation.
“It’s a simple, resourceful way our organization can help spread the message about this real need,” he said.
“GATX is proud to partner with ConAgra Mills in its passionate effort to fight child hunger,” said George Economy, corporate account manager for GATX. “It is our sincere hope that the six custom cars will serve as rolling billboards throughout the country to raise awareness and funding for this most worthy cause.”
GATX also ordered scale-model replicas built of the Feeding America cars, which it placed in The Great Train Story, a permanent exhibit at the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry.
As another measure of support for Feeding America, ConAgra Mills hosted its second annual charity golf tournament during the summer to fight child hunger.
The event raised $100,000 for Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization. The gift went to Food Bank of the Heartland, a Feeding America affiliate, and was $30,000 more than was raised last year. It was the second-largest amount raised through a single event this year for the food bank.
The funds support the food bank’s BackPack Program, which provides food over the weekend for schoolchildren in need. GATX officials also made a $10,000 donation to Feeding America, which was matched with an equal donation to the Food Bank for the Heartland by the ConAgra Foods Foundation.
“There are so many different ways we as an industry can help fight child hunger, and I would encourage everyone to get involved,” said Bill Stoufer, president of ConAgra Mills. “Every minute of your time in this effort makes a difference in the life of a kid, and together we can make a meaningful impact.”
