Leading the food distribution drive are Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services, The Suburban Collection, Gleaners Community Food Bank, Forgotten Harvest and United Way for Southeastern Michigan

Effort includes reaching thousands of children this summer who face hunger because of lack of access to school-sponsored free lunch programs

An estimated 600,000 people in southeastern Michigan are believed to be at risk of suffering from hunger

DEARBORN, Mich., July 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services announced today it is teaming up with local dealers and food agencies to deliver 575,000 meals this summer to the hungry in southeastern Michigan, where a tough economy is contributing to a rise in families struggling to meet basic food needs.

Teaming up with Ford to deliver meals to the hungry this summer are two Ford franchises of The Suburban Collection (Suburban Ford of Sterling Heights and Suburban Ford of Waterford), Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeastern Michigan, Forgotten Harvest and United Way for Southeastern Michigan.

Through the team effort, Ford will bolster Gleaners' and Forgotten Harvest's food distribution with additional vehicles from The Suburban Collection. Additionally, United Way's '211' help line will direct people in need to meal distribution locations operated by Gleaners and Forgotten Harvest.

Also, Ford Fund and Ford Motor Company are donating $50,000 to Gleaners for food purchases and $100,000 to Forgotten Harvest for short-term leases of refrigerated trucks and fresh food acquisition.

'Because hunger is a community-wide issue, Ford is focused on forging relationships and collaborations with community partners that are going to result in people being fed,' said Jim Vella, president, Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services. 'Helping families escape hunger is our goal, and to succeed, we are inviting more organizations and community leaders to get involved in this cause.'

U.S. Rep. Sander Levin of Michigan lent his support to the meal delivery effort at a kick-off event this morning at Suburban Ford of Sterling Heights.

'These are tough times for Michigan families,' said Rep. Levin.