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Dow/MCA Food Drive Helps Fill Special Need at Local Food Banks

Plaquemine, Louisiana - June 05, 2007

Food drive

Gathering some of the more than 16,800 pounds of food during the recent Dow / MCA Annual Food Drive are (l to r): Jeff Cooley, Jacobs; Greg Ransome, Westgate; Isadore Slaughter, Erwinville Food Bank; Bud Campbell, Westgate, Cora Stewart, Erwinville Food Bank; Donna Curole, Dow; Jack Saradette, St. John the Baptist Food Bank; Ray Landry, Port Allen Food Bank; Stacey Chiasson, Dow; Renee Mayeux, Dow; Trey Rivet, HBT.

Employees at Dow’s Louisiana Operations and the Maintenance Contractors Association (MCA) collected 2,680 pounds of food and $3,813 to donate to local food banks during the site’s annual food drive. The money will be used by the food banks to purchase an additional 14,130 pounds of food, bringing the total amount donated to almost 16,810 pounds.

The Louisiana Operations Food Drive Committee decided to move the dates of the Dow/MCA Food Drive to May to fill a special need of local food banks. The food banks supported by LAO’s Annual Food Drive expressed a need for food donations directly following the end of the school year.

Each year, public school systems feed tens of thousands of students using the free or reduced lunch program. In late May, the many children fed with this program are let out of school and no longer receive the food and nutrition they need. In some cases, May is one of the busiest times of the year for food banks, joining Christmas and Thanksgiving. During these months, local food banks also experience a decline in donations as families tend to focus on summer activities.

“The hard work that Dow and MCA put into this food drive each year make it possible for the Food Bank to feed the hungry of our community,” said Amy Sellers, Food Procurement Coordinator for the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank. “I am glad that we have developed this relationship with Dow and MCA in order to provide food to those less fortunate.”

Recipient food banks that will provide food to hungry individuals in the community include: Erwinville Community Children’s Organization in Erwinville; Our Brother’s Keeper Food Bank in Plaquemine; St. John the Baptist Catholic Church Food Bank in Brusly; Port Allen Food Pantry in Port Allen; St. Elizabeth’s Catholic Church Food Pantry in Paincourtville, and the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank in Baton Rouge.

The Food Drive was chaired by Dow employee Donna Curole and MCA members Bud Campbell, Westgate and Tim Fletcher, Petrin.

Each year, Dow and MCA jointly sponsor the food drive to help re-supply local food banks. MCA companies include: Basic, Petrin, Sipco, HBT, TSS, Westgate, Oil Field Plant Maintenance, Hydrochem, and J.E. Merit.

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For Editorial Information:

Gary Cambre
The Dow Chemical Company
(225) 353-8265