Tri-State Toyota Dealers and partners donate more than 70,000 pounds of food

PHILADELPHIA--Dec. 12, 2013: How much food can you fit in the bed of a Toyota Tundra? How many Tundras does it take to deliver 70,000 meals? We're about to find out at noon this Friday, thanks to the Tri-State Toyota Dealers' annual "Toyota Tundra Food Drive" for Philabundance, the region's largest hunger relief organization.

As part of the Tri-State Toyota Dealers' seventh annual food donation to Philabundance, they are partnering with 20 Philadelphia-area organizations to deliver more than 35 tons of nonperishable food in a convoy of 48 Toyota Tundras that will, quite literally, "haul away hunger."

"We want to thank all of our generous partners for not only helping us achieve our 2013 goal to double our donation year-over-year, but for helping us to more than triple the amount of food we're providing," said Tri-State TDA President Paul Muller, Jr. "It's staggering when you hear how many people in the Delaware Valley are relying on organizations such as Philabundance just to get a warm meal. We've committed ourselves to help lead the charge in feeding the community, and hope to do so for years to come."

Having donated 22,000 pounds of food to Philabundance in December 2012, Toyota and its Dealers have started a tradition. This year, Toyota has 20 partners on board including local broadcast media and Philadelphia-area professional sports teams. "The Phillies are long-time partners with the Tri-State Toyota Dealers Association, and were more than pleased to participate and host such a worthwhile event at Citizens Bank Park," said Phillies' Senior Vice President of Marketing, Dave Buck.

"The Tri-State Toyota Dealers Association (TDA) is one of Philabundance's strongest partners, and this donation will make a huge difference in the lives of those struggling to put food on the table this holiday season," said Bill Clark, president and executive director of Philabundance. "We can't thank them enough for all they do."

This year's food drive event will truly be a "Toyota Family" affair, with participation from Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Toyota Financial Services, and Toyota Material Handling, U.S.A. – the latter of which is providing the Toyota forklifts to off-load the food donated to Philabundance. "We are happy to team up with Philabundance once again, so to be able to help our fellow Toyota divisions is a true pleasure for our organization," said Tim Agnew, vice president/general manager of Toyota Material Handling Northeast, Inc.

"The food drive is a terrific example of how our dealer group here in the Philadelphia area is consistently focused on working in and contributing to local communities," said Andrew Gilleland, general manager of Central Atlantic Toyota. Throughout the year, the Tri-State Toyota Dealers have consistently supported many organizations and causes in the Greater Philadelphia Area, including donations and events dedicated to driver safety, wellness, children's causes, and providing assistance to local veterans through programs, such as "Hiring Our Heroes" (US Chamber).

Toyota recognizes that hunger relief is a year-round need, and hopes that the 2013 "Toyota Tundra Food Drive" will inspire other organizations and individuals in the community to do their part and help Philabundance in any way they can. Visit Philabundance to find out how you or your organization can get involved in hunger relief.

Philabundance and Toyota welcome any credentialed media to attend the "Toyota Tundra Food Drive" in Toyota Lot P at Citizens Bank Park on Friday, Dec. 13, anytime between 11:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.