November Issue 2001
Mint Museums in Charlotte, NC, Waive Admission for Second Harvest Food Bank
Admission to Charlotte, NC's Mint Museum of Art and the Mint Museum of Craft + Design will be waived Nov. 1 - 21 for anyone bringing canned food to be donated to Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina. Food supplies at the regional food bank are down 52% while the number of families seeking assistance has risen as much as 50% over last year.
Second Harvest partners with 520 food assistance charities in 16 North and South Carolina counties, distributing over 9.2 million pounds of essential food last year to shelters, emergency food pantries, soup kitchens, low income day cares for children and the elderly, and group homes for populations with life-changing disabilities. In addition, the organization provides deliveries through a Mobile Food Bank and Mobile Food Pantry program and reaches children through its Kids Cafe.
"We are very concerned that the situation is becoming worse as layoffs increase in the current weakening economy," stated Anne Register, Second Harvest executive director. "If the Food Bank fails, thousands of people will simply not be helped."
Because of the critical need, the Charlotte Ad Club is creating an upcoming campaign message Stop Hunger Here!
"The message hopes to accomplish four things," explained Register. "It says there is a local problem, that it is urgent, that it is solvable and that people can help by getting involved." Individuals, clubs, churches or companies wishing to help collect canned food or volunteer are urged to call the Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina at 704/376-1785 or contact its website at (http://www.secondharvestcharlotte.org).
"Art museums are often thought of as providing an emotional or spiritual sanctuary," commented Mike Smith, acting director of the Mint Museums. "We hope to not only address a real physical need by collecting canned food donations, but to inspire other organizations to get involved, too."
Following Hurricane Andrew in 1992, the Mint Museum of Art initiated a Charlotte Can Do campaign offering free admission for the donation of canned food. "In just two weeks the museum collected over 5,000 pounds of canned food," said Register, "but even more important, community awareness of the need rose dramatically."
Financial donations made to Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina are also an excellent investment in that the food bank is able to distribute $10 worth of food for every $1 received.
Collection barrels for canned food will be located in the lobbies of the Mint Museum of Art at 2730 Randolph Road and the Mint Museum of Craft + Design at 220 North Tryon Street. A donation of one or more cans of food for each individual earns free admission to the museums. For uptown workers wishing to donate canned food, but unable to visit the museum because of their work schedule, guest passes will be given for a future visit during the Nov. 1 - 21 period.
At the Mint Museum of Art you could see, The
Sport of Life and Death: The Mesoamerican Ballgame (through
Dec. 30), 100th Anniversary Salute to Ansel Adams (through
Apr. 28, 2002), or The Inward Eye: Photographs by N. Jay Jaffee
(through Feb. 243, 2002). At the Mint Museum of Craft + Design
you could see, William Morris: Myth, Object and the Animal,
on view from Nov. 10 through Mar. 31, 2002.
For more information check our NC Institutional Gallery listings,
call the Mint Museums at 704/337-2000, or check out the website
at (http://www.mintmuseum.org).
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