Katharine McPhee concludes Hunger-Free Summer Initiative in Houston

Katharine McPhee last week capped off her contribution to the U.S. Hunger-Free Summer Initiative for Kids co-sponsored by the ConAgra Foods Foundation and Feeding America this summer in an effort to combat child food insecurity. She sang for children at the LINC in Houston, Tex., on Tues., Aug. 17, including a performance of her cover of "Brand New Key," which can be watched below:

Over the course of the summer of 2010, 23 food banks received funding, including the Houston Food Bank, to champion the fight against child hunger by developing new approaches to increase awareness of the problem and access to services that can aid in achieving the goal of eliminating hunger. Kat traveled the country, performing at multiple community locations including in Orlando, Fla., and Santa Ana, Calif., that help children receive adequate nutritional meals when out of school.

For more information on the initiative, visit the official websites of the ConAgra Foods Foundation and Feeding America.

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Katharine McPhee continues work on Hunger-Free Summer campaign; contest announced

As previously mentioned, Katharine McPhee has been busy this month with the Hunger-Free Summer campaign sponsored by the ConAgra Foods Foundation and Feeding America. Kat's latest appearance came last Monday, July 12, at the Project Access Resource Center in Santa Ana, Calif., as pictured to the right.

Per the ConAgra Foods Foundation, the goal of the campaign is to help fund 10,000 meals for schoolchildren that go hungry during the summer when there are no food options provided for by the school systems. Kat has been a supporter of Feeding America’s Entertainment Council for nearly a year.

Also in relation to Kat, IDOL LIVE would like to announce a contest coming in the near future for a chance to win Kat's latest album, Unbroken, which will involve answering trivia questions. Be on the lookout for that exciting opportunity! (AP Photo/ConAgra Foods Foundation, Drew Kelley)

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Katharine McPhee dedicates time to "Hunger-Free Summer Initiative"

Katharine McPhee has taken up a worthy cause this summer, as she will be dedicating some of her time to helping the ConAgra Foods Foundation and Feeding America with their "Hunger-Free Summer Inititative" to help strike out hunger among low-income kids. She kicked off the initiative last Wednesday when she appeared at the New Image Youth Center in Orlando, Fla., to lend a helping hand. Per a press release:

The Hunger-Free Summer initiative aims to close that gap through a $5 million donation from the ConAgra Foods Foundation to Feeding America. The goal of the Hunger-Free Summer initiative is to provide at least 25 percent more meals for children in need over the next five years, and will account for a significant portion of ConAgra Foods Foundation’s goal of delivering one million meals to children in need this summer.

Katharine seems to be very interested in the campaign, as she said:

“This summer, I am going to be traveling across the country to Feeding America food banks from Orlando to Los Angeles – to volunteer my time and, more importantly, to raise awareness about this important issue,” said McPhee. “I want to challenge every community to come together to help end child hunger in the United States.”

Kat also appeared in Irvine, Calif., yesterday. Other cities Kat will be making her way to this summer include Little Rock, Ark. on Wed., July 14 and Houston, Tex., during the week of July 26. (AP Photo/ConAgra Foods Foundation, Phelan M. Ebenhack, HO)

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30 'Idol' alums to partake in Feeding America initiative

Ahead of next week's Idol Gives Back special, FOX today issued a press release with a who's who of former finalists that will be taking part in activities that support Feeding America’s local food banks.

As many as 30 past contestants have signed up to participate in the initiative to sort and prepare food donated to local food banks across the country beginning tomorrow. Below is a full list of scheduled appearances:

TUESDAY, APRIL 13

THE LOS ANGELES REGIONAL FOOD BANK, LOS ANGELES – Kimberley Locke, Didi Benami, David Hernandez, Amy Adams, Chikezie, Mikalah Gordon, Elliott Yamin, Kevin Covais, Michael Johns, LaToya London and Brandon Rogers will pack food in boxes for senior citizens and young children in need at the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank.

UTAH FOOD BANK, SALT LAKE CITY – Megan Joy will assist a group of 30 volunteers who will sort through food-drive donations, divide them into categories and prepare food boxes.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14

GREATER CHICAGO FOOD DEPOSITORY, CHICAGO – Gina Glocksen and Amanda Overmyer will join a group of volunteers to pack disaster relief boxes for Feeding America.

SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK OF MIDDLE TENNESSEE, NASHVILLE –Lacey Brown, Bucky Covington, Melinda Doolittle, Bo Bice, Phil Stacey and Mandisa will work with other volunteers to pack disaster-relief boxes for Feeding America.

FOOD LIFELINE, SEATTLE – Blake Lewis will assist a group of volunteers in sorting and repacking products to be distributed to families in need.

THURSDAY, APRIL 15

JAN HUS PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, NEW YORK – Ace Young, Diana DeGarmo, Jorge Núñez, Julia DeMato and RJ Helton will lend a helping hand to hungry New Yorkers by delivering food with City Harvest.
HOUSTON FOOD BANK, HOUSTON – LaKisha Jones will be working with a group of volunteers who will inspect donated food and prepare it to be re-distributed to 400 agencies.

FEEDING AMERICA TAMPA BAY, TAMPA – Melissa McGhee will spread hope to people in need by working with a group of volunteers to sort and package food.

FRIDAY, APRIL 16

UNITED WAY COMMUNITY FOOD, BIRMINGHAM – Ruben Studdard will label cans and pack boxes.
THREE SQUARE, LAS VEGAS – Danny Gokey will assist a group of volunteers to sort through donated food that will be used to feed local families in need.

The two-hour Idol Gives Back special airs Wed., April 21, and will feature appearances by President Barack Obama, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, former President George W. Bush, Brad Pitt, Bono, Reese Witherspoon, Miley Cyrus, Eli Manning, Peyton Manning, Annie Lennox, Daughtry, Carrie Underwood, Mariah Carey, Gwen Stefani, Josh Groban, P!nk, Céline Dion, Robin Williams, Ben Stiller and more.

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