Jeff Gordon joins AARP Foundation for $20,000 donation to New Hampshire Food Bank

LOUDON, N.H. – Four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon today joined representatives of AARP Foundation as the Foundation made a $20,000 donation to New Hampshire Food Bank. The donation specifically goes to support the food bank's production garden, which is used as a job training resource, as well as a source of fresh, locally produced food for people in need in the Granite State.

"The everyday heroes who work and volunteer at New Hampshire Food Bank do so much to help put food on the table for people who might otherwise go hungry," said Gordon, driver of the No. 24 Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet SS for Hendrick Motorsports. "It's an honor to stand with AARP Foundation and salute their work."

"We are extremely grateful for the support from AARP Foundation, which is helping us and so many other organizations serve people in need," said Mel Gosselin, New Hampshire Food Bank executive director. "Like Jeff Gordon, we'll keep our foot on the gas in our efforts to help feed people here in New Hampshire."

The donation was part of an event at New Hampshire Motor Speedway designed to raise awareness of AARP Foundation's work in New England to foster long-term solutions to the issue of older adult hunger. The event highlighted three regional organizations – among the approximately 100 groups across the country – who have received AARP Foundation support to help Americans ages 50-plus avoid the risk of hunger. Specifically:

•Action for Boston Community Development teaches food insecure seniors in Boston’s lowest-income neighborhoods how to maximize their food dollars on healthy, affordable food and reducing their monthly expenses.
•Western Mountains Alliance in Farmington, Maine, supports and makes it easier to access local food systems in their communities. Strong local food systems not only give people access to more flavorful and nutritious food – two key benefits of locally sourced food – they also create stronger local economies.
•Boston Medical Center’s “Healthy Eating for At-Risk Older Adults” program offers personalized nutrition education, as well as delivers food to homebound individuals.

"Nearly 9 million older adults are forced to make tough decisions between paying for food and other essentials like a place to live and medical care," said Jo Ann Jenkins, president of AARP Foundation, which leads Drive to End Hunger, a national campaign to fight older adult hunger. "We are proud to support the great work of groups like these that not only help people put food on the table today, but also help lower the risk of hunger in the future."

New Hampshire Motor Speedway helped host today's event in their media center. In addition to this support, New Hampshire Motor Speedway and track concessionaire Levy Restaurants will donate excess food from this weekend's race to Teen Challenge, a local area program, on behalf of Drive to End Hunger.

"Working with AARP Foundation on the Drive to End Hunger is an important way for us to help people in our community," said Kristen Costa, director of communications for New Hampshire Motor Speedway. "Every corner of NASCAR Nation is part of a big family, and we appreciate the opportunity to give back to those who need it."

September is Feeding America's Hunger Action Month (TM). To learn more or share your story, please visit www.DriveToEndHunger.org or follow #HungerAction.