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Newspaper collects 420,000+ lbs. of food

By MARI SAITO
Philadelphia Daily News

saitom@phillynews.com 215-854-5926

Brian Tierney, chief executive officer of Philadelphia Media Holdings, flanked by several boxes overflowing with food, announced yesterday that more than 420,000 pounds of food had been collected for Philabundance and the Food Bank of South Jersey.

Tierney, speaking at a news conference at Philabundance in South Philadelphia, said the Inquirer will embark on a new challenge to collect one million pounds of food. The food drive will continue through next summer and include the Daily News.

"The need is still here," Tierney said. "The Inquirer and Daily News will bring their resources together and collect one million pounds of food."

Philadelphia Media Holdings owns the Daily News, the Inquirer and Philly.com. The food drive was originally aimed at collecting 180,000 pounds of food over 180 days to mark the Inquirer's 180th anniversary. Acme Markets also helped with food collection, which began in March.

Tierney said area food banks were struggling, noting that demand for food had increased 23 percent while contributions have dropped 26 percent. Martha Buccino, senior vice president of Philabundance, said the recession was forcing people who never needed food aid before to seek it out for the first time.

"People who used to donate food are now looking for food," she said.

Tierney told reporters that the Inquirer's collection will provide 1.26 million meals to the needy in the Philadelphia area.

Ed Demetreshon, head of food sourcing for the Food Bank of South Jersey, applauded the Inquirer for doubling its goal for the food drive. Demetreshon said it was critical to get the message out about the necessity of food drives.

"The press reaches millions of people in minutes," he said, explaining that when companies like the Inquirer start talking about the needy, it mobilizes other companies to offer their help.

Tierney thanked readers, partners and employees who made cash and food contributions.

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Comments

Posted 10:03 AM, 11/06/2009

Survivorman

Thanks to Brian Tierney there are a few former Inquirer employees using those food banks!

Posted 10:21 AM, 11/06/2009

steve19149

The facts in this story indicate that 420,000 pounds of food will serve 1.2 million meals. That would be 5 ounces of food for a meal. How nonsensical.

Posted 10:45 AM, 11/06/2009

Sam Pileggi

Since when does a newspaper run these kinds of stories about what the publisher does?

Posted 10:49 AM, 11/06/2009

phlyfumblr

Leave it to someone like Steve to shed a negative light on a positive article. Do you kick puppies as your part time job?

Posted 11:24 AM, 11/06/2009

billyglasses

Hopefully, the Publisher sets some food aside for himself, so he can eat when he gets Thrown out.

Posted 11:33 AM, 11/06/2009

wendymae1

tierney and many of the columnists he hires support policies that are the reason so much more food aid is needed. it disgusts me that his name starts this article like it's an ad for him. this is the first i've heard of this drive too - why not put a banner at the top of philly.com?

Posted 12:49 PM, 11/06/2009

Sam Pileggi

Remember that Brian Tierney is a former public relations man. This is all about Brian. This is all about retaining control and power. It has little to do with foodbanks.

Posted 07:34 PM, 11/06/2009

iamdante

I didn't read the story. I knew it was Brian Tierney again wasting the limited resources of the newspaper for another one of his self promotion exercises. I can't think of anyone or anything that has been worse for the journalistic integrity of the Philly dailies than Brian Tierney. In a couple weeks the only pig that's going be flying will be Brian Tierney as he is booted out the door of the Inquirer building.