Orlando, FLA, March 16, 2010 – The Community Food and Outreach Center will receive a much-deserved facelift on Tuesday, March 23, thanks to hard-working volunteers from ARAMARK, a leading global professional services company. The day of service will help introduce the center to the Orlando community and kick-off a new, long-term partnership between the Community Food and Outreach Center and ARAMARK Building Community, a company-wide initiative that fosters long-term support for local community centers in more than 40 cities. 

The Community Food and Outreach Center provides food, clothing and other critical human services to those struggling in Central Florida. In the fall of 2009, the Community Food and Outreach Center reopened the doors of the former Destiny Foundation campus at 150 West Michigan Street. ARAMARK’s day of service will help to launch the organization as a new, stronger community service provider for the Orlando community.

More than 100 ARAMARK volunteers will complete 18 revitalization projects, including completely refurbishing the Thrift Center’s clothes processing room and organizing clothing donations from an ARAMARK-sponsored clothing drive. To help support health and wellness educational programs, volunteers will also create an “ARAMARK Building Community Eat Smart Zone” by installing a new food preparation station, painting inspirational wall murals, stocking health and wellness information for families, and providing ongoing programs and support. Volunteers will also join Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and Universal Studios Orlando to hand out emergency food baskets to families in need.

“We are seeing more children and families in need than ever before, and we were devastated to close our doors last year. It means so much to these families to have companies like ARAMARK bring its employees and community leaders to support our organization so we can make a real difference in this community,” said Pastor Scott George, co-founder of the new Community Food and Outreach Center. “The ARAMARK partnership will not only transform our physical space, but positively impact the experience of those we serve, enhance our ability to carry out our mission, and improve the Center's presence in the community.”

The current economic landscape places more importance on community centers than ever before. The Community Food and Outreach Center serves working class families who are facing poverty and being affected by financial crisis.

“ARAMARK Building Community is a great example of our continued investment in our communities around the world," said Fred Sutherland, ARAMARK Chief Financial Officer, volunteering with the team in Orlando. “We're proud of the partnerships we're creating with organizations like the Community Food and Outreach Center in Orlando. The ability of our employees to mobilize their unique skills and resources in support of community groups doing the important work of helping families succeed is extremely rewarding.”

The enhancement projects at the Community Food and Outreach Center and other locations across the country reinforce ARAMARK’s commitment to employee volunteer service. ARAMARK will return to the Center throughout the year to offer expertise and resources to help prepare and connect people to jobs, provide nutrition and wellness education, and strengthen the organization and its programs.   

About Community Food and Outreach Center
Community Food and Outreach Center provides food and hope to those in need in Central Florida. We do this by helping struggling families get a hand up to get their basic needs met, connecting those in crisis with the resources and tools needed to get back on their feet and prevent homelessness, and providing the training and skills necessary to help our neighbors get employment opportunities, achieve their dreams, and regain hope for their lives.

About ARAMARK Building Community
ARAMARK Building Community enriches the lives of families in need by supporting local community centers to help people of all generations learn, earn and thrive. ARAMARK recognizes the important role community centers play in addressing the comprehensive needs of individuals and families and is providing a range of resources including grants, volunteers and in-kind contributions. Through ARAMARK Building Community, volunteers use their expertise to help youth and adults develop critical, employable work skills and connect them to career opportunities; support families with nutrition and wellness education; provide basic needs such as food and clothing; and help identified partners run cleaner, safer and more efficient facilities to enhance and strengthen programs on an ongoing basis.

About ARAMARK
ARAMARK is a leader in professional services, providing award-winning food services, facilities management, and uniform and career apparel to health care institutions, universities and school districts, stadiums and arenas, and businesses around the world. In FORTUNE magazine's 2010 list of "World's Most Admired Companies," ARAMARK was ranked number one in its industry, consistently ranking since 1998 as one of the top three most admired companies in its industry as evaluated by peers and analysts. ARAMARK seeks to responsibly address issues that matter to its clients, customers, employees and communities by focusing on employee advocacy, environmental stewardship, health and wellness, and community involvement. Headquartered in Philadelphia, ARAMARK has approximately 255,000 employees serving clients in 22 countries. Learn more at www.twitter.com/aramarknews.

Contacts:
Community Food & Outreach Center
Lissy Houseman, Director, Corporate Partnerships
407-808-2081
lissy@communityfoodoutreach.org

Media
Krystin Williamson, Allison & Partners
619-533-7974
Krystin@allisonpr.com