MEMPHIS, Tenn., Nov. 16. 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- This Thanksgiving, over 1,100 Memphis area families in need will receive food for their holiday meal thanks to the Memphis Community Food Basket Initiative—"Memphis Helping Memphis."

This is the 18^th year Cargill is leading the initiative, which brings together local companies, government agencies and nonprofit organizations to create and deliver food baskets for families in need.  This Thanksgiving, more than 130 volunteers will spend four days packaging and distributing baskets throughout the greater Memphis area.

"On average, there are four people in each family we reach out to," said Ruth Banks, leader of the Memphis Community Food Basket Initiative and marine tower operator at Cargill's Corn Milling facility in Memphis. "Given that average, this year we will feed 4,560 people this Thanksgiving holiday. This initiative is an opportunity for us to come together as a community and make a real difference for those most in need this season."     

Forty companies and organizations are participating in the Food Basket Initiative this year. Most of the companies have all participated in this effort for the past 13 years.

The 2012 Memphis Community Food Basket Initiative will run on November 17, 2012 with the delivery of non-perishable food items to Memphis Depot/Mayfield Properties, LP/Colliers International Warehouse located at 2130 Memphis Depot Parkway, Building 250 in Memphis, where volunteers will begin packaging the meals. It will continue through Tuesday, Nov. 20, when the food baskets will be delivered in time for Thanksgiving.

Memphis Depot/Mayfield Properties, LP/Colliers International Warehouse is a large contributor this year, donating the warehouse space being used to pack the boxes at virtually no cost to the Memphis Community Food Basket Initiative.

About Cargill

Cargill is an international producer and marketer of food, agricultural, financial and industrial products and services. Founded in 1865, the privately held company employs 142,000 people in 65 countries. Cargill helps customers succeed through collaboration and innovation, and is committed to sharing its global knowledge and experience to help meet economic, environmental and social challenges wherever it does business. For more information, visit http://www.cargill.com.

About Cargill Community Giving

Cargill gives back to communities by contributing 2 percent of its global consolidated pre-tax earnings (based on a three-year trailing average). Cargill donated $57.5 million in 54 countries during its 2010 fiscal year. Cargill provides support to organizations, projects and programs that fall in three focus areas: nutrition and health; education; and environmental stewardship.

SOURCE Cargill