With foodbanks across the region facing increased demand and a drop in donations, Meridian, Idaho-based Western States Equipment Co. last week announced the launch of a “Dump Hunger” campaign in partnership with local food banks in each of their branch locations in Idaho, Montana, Washington, Oregon and Wyoming.

The company-wide campaign runs through Jan. 23, and seeks to secure enough food to fill the bed of a Caterpillar 730 dump truck, the industry’s largest payload vehicle in its class, capable of holding 75,000 pounds of food. Donations to the campaign can be brought to any of the Western States Cat location throughout their territory.

"We could not sit idly by while foodbank pantries in our community are running bare,” said Tom Harris, Western States president. Harris said the "Dump Hunger" campaign originated when the company chose to forgo its annual holiday lunch and instead support this effort to help those in need.


Area food banks estimate a 30-percent increase in demand from this time last year, while donations have dropped 38 percent from corporate food producers who are increasingly clearing out merchandise through dollar stores and discount outlets.

Terry Graves, food resource manager of the Idaho Foodbank, said that without the help of partners such as Western States, meeting demand for holiday meals would be extremely difficult. "Our pantry stocks are far too low to carry us through the winter, so Western States' help couldn't have come at a better time, we are truly grateful."

Over the next 30 days, the "Dump Hunger" campaign welcomes donations of non-perishable food items from Western States employees, customers and the general public. Western States will also match the dollar value of all the food collected with a cash donation of up to $15,000.

"Hunger doesn't stop at Christmas," said Harris. "We hope the community remembers this season as one of charity and goodwill. We're just doing our small part to make sure everyone has food after the holidays and into 2009."

For more information, including Dump Hunger campaign pictures and a weekly Dump Hunger Tracker, visit www.westernstatescat.com.

With more than 70 years experience in the logging, mining and construction industries, Western States Equipment is an authorized Caterpillar dealer for five mountain states with 11 general line and truck engine branches and 11 Cat Rental Stores located in Idaho, western Wyoming and Montana, and eastern Oregon and Washington.