Cuyahoga Falls man wins $5,000 for local foodbank

Robert Wilk of Cuyahoga Falls has been named winner of the Performance Racing Network’s (PRN) ‘Win Groceries for a Year Sweepstakes’ presented by AARP Foundation and Nationwide Insurance.

Wilk will receive a $5,000 gift card to his local grocery store and in addition to his grand prize, AARP Foundation, through its Drive to End Hunger, has pledged a $5,000 donation to the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank near Wilk’s hometown.

“My wife and I were elated to hear we won,” said Wilk. “We are both AARP members and we have several charities that we donate to, so for AARP Foundation to donate $5,000 to a charity in our area is just fantastic.”

The Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank was formed in 1982 by a group of community leaders who made a commitment to provide emergency food to their neighbors in need. Today, the Foodbank provides food and other essential items to member agencies in eight Northeast Ohio counties.

“These are challenging times for so many of our friends and neighbors, but no one should have to go hungry,” said Dan Flowers, president and CEO the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank. “I would like to thank PRN and Drive to End Hunger for this generous donation, and for joining us in the fight against hunger.”

Millions of older adults struggle with hunger in America, and Drive to End Hunger aims to change that by providing food to local food banks, enrolling older adults in critical government programs that help provide nutritious meals and identifying long-term solutions that will help end this solvable problem.

“There are nearly nine million Americans 50+ who struggle to put food on the table, including almost one-in-twelve Ohioans age 50+ who face the risk of hunger,” said Jo Ann Jenkins, AARP Foundation president.  “We encourage everyone to make an effort and get involved to help end older adult hunger.  Whether you’re a NASCAR champion like Jeff Gordon or volunteering locally at a food bank – we can all play a role in bringing about solutions that impact so many people in our communities.”

Through the program’s involvement with NASCAR, their spokesperson Jeff Gordon has helped to raise awareness and engage more than 30,000 grassroots volunteers to help people at risk of hunger.

“An exciting contest like the PRN’s Groceries for a Year sweepstakes is a reminder that it’s always great to win,” said four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon, driver of the No. 24 Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports.  “But also remember that there is no finish line in the fight against older adult hunger, so we’re keeping our foot on the gas on this very important issue.”

You too can join Jeff Gordon, AARP and food banks everywhere with the Drive to End Hunger by visiting End Senior Hunger