WHAT IS IT? 
 
FOODSTOCK 2002 is a creative, statewide collaborative effort of national and community service programs and participants (AmeriCorps, Senior Service Corps, Learn & Serve), youth programs, volunteer centers, voluntary organizations, schools, community organizations and faith-based groups.  These groups are working with the Pennsylvania Association of Regional Food Banks, the Points of Light Foundation and others.  
 
FOODSTOCK is being promoted by PennSERVE: The Governor’s Office of Citizen Service, the PA Community Service Advisory Board, the Corporation for National & Community Service State Office, the PA Department of Education Service-Learning Office, PA Campus Compact and the Volunteer Centers of PA as part of their united strategic efforts to change the way people think about service, service-learning and volunteerism. 

WHEN? 
 
From noon on Friday, November 22 until noon on Saturday, November 23, 2002, which is National Family Volunteer Day.

WHY?
 

Strengthen community ties, media awareness and sustainability. Promote cross-stream service opportunities for AmeriCorps, National Senior Service Corps, Learn & Serve and engage other community-based partners in national and community service activities for local community awareness, outreach, potential sustainability and support. Raise food, funds and friends for regional food banks and community-based food pantries, cupboards and kitchens. Heighten awareness about hunger and nutrition through education and outreach. Support President Bush’s call to citizen service by mobilizing the national and community service “family” to recruit volunteers and engage families and individuals in service activities, before, during and after the 24-hour FOODSTOCK.

It is an innovative call to service to help people who face hunger on a daily basis.

WHERE?
 
FOODSTOCK collections are taking place across the Commonwealth.  If not in your area, please call your local food bank, pantry or shelter and ask what YOU can do to help.  Make it a family event and take the children!
 
NATIONAL FAMILY VOLUNTEER DAY
 
The theme this year is My Family Matters-We Volunteer!  The purpose is to call families across America to work together in volunteer service to strengthen their families, communities, local businesses and non-profit organizations.  What better day to engage adults and youth in service to make a difference.  Learn more at http://www.pointsoflight.org/  or http://www.alliance1.org/.
 
In support of the President Bush’s call to service, and in cooperation with the American Institute for Public Service, service tracking forms are available to youth to qualify for the President’s Student Service Awards. To find out more about these awards, go to http://www.student-service-awards.org/.
 LOOKING AHEAD TO 2003
 
Depending on the success of FOODSTOCK 2002 on National Family Volunteer Day, we would like to repeat the event in June 2003 in tandem with National Hunger Awareness Day, which is set for June 5.  Food bank stocking needs to increase substantially during the summer months, when children are out of school and are not receiving regular meals.