SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – The Food Processing Suppliers Association will contribute $75,000 to the Greater Chicago Food Depository as part of an initiative to address hunger in the greater Cook County, Ill., area. The Defeat Hunger Initiative will run in conjunction with Process Expo 2013 November 3-6 in Chicago.

Process Expo exhibitors will be participating in a food drive in the months leading up to the Expo, according to Barry Shoulders, FPSA Foundation chairman.

“Both the Association and the Foundation are committed to giving back to the community, and this initiative underscores that commitment," said David Seckman, president and CEO of FPSA. "We are confident that the exhibitors at PROCESS EXPO will rally around Defeat Hunger and will be committed to making a difference for the 807,000 food insecure individuals in the greater Chicago area. We are proud to be partners with the Food Depository, an organization that provides a lifeline for those in need.”

The Food Depository distributed 64 million lbs. of food in fiscal 2012, including 21 million lbs. of fresh produce. The organization is one of the largest of its kind, serving more than 142,000 people per week through 650 different programs.

“Defeat Hunger will be a strong statement of the FPSA’s belief that no man, woman or child in our country should go hungry," said Kate Maehr, CEO of the Food Depository. "The Greater Chicago Food Depository looks forward to our shared partnership. On behalf of the food insecure people in our community, thank you for helping to feed our city.”