Foodchain, the nation's leading "food-rescue" program, has merged with America's Second Harvest, the leading domestic hunger-relief organization, leaders of the two groups announced Tuesday.

The merger will take place immediately, and the combined organization -- which will keep the America's Second Harvest name -- will be based in Chicago. Deborah Leff will continue as president and chief executive officer. Christina Martin, Foodchain's founder/executive director, is director of food rescue/affiliate services of the combined organization.

Foodchain specialized in distributing excess food from restaurants, hotels and caterers through 140 local programs.

America's Second Harvest had nearly 200 food banks throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico. It distributed a billion pounds of food to an estimated 26 million people. The new group is expected to reach one in 10 Americans.

The merger should mean lower overhead, better distribution and more efficient operations to combat domestic hunger. If needed, local facilities will be merged on a case-by-case basis, group leaders stated.

A full version of this news release can be found at:
http://www.secondharvest.org/newsroom/newsroom.html