SALEM, Mass., Dec. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Local food banks will benefit from a more than $1 million donation announced today by the Dominion Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Dominion Resources, one of the nation's largest energy producers. "Dominion wants to help our neighbors who are encountering hardships during the current economic downturn," said Thomas F. Farrell II, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Dominion. "This contribution will help put food on the table for families in 14 states during the holiday season." Two Salem food banks, the St. Joseph's Food Pantry and the Salem Mission, will each receive a $3,500 grant. Dominion is the owner and operator of Salem Harbor Power Station. Dominion Retail also supplies electricity to customers in Massachusetts. "This charitable contribution is so inspiring and uplifting for St. Joseph's Food Pantry," said VeAnn Campbell, executive director of the pantry. "Dominion has been supportive and very good to us in the past and it really shows that this company is caring for the community and the people in it, which is so very important." St. Joseph's Food Pantry will use half of the donation in its "Baby with Blues" program that helps terminally ill and physically disabled children, Campbell said. The other half will allow the pantry to restart the delivery service to the elderly and disabled that was temporarily suspended because of a lack of funds. "This money is going to make a huge difference in our ability to keep the food pantry open," said Mark Cote, executive director of the Salem Mission. "It is increasingly difficult to keep the shelves in the Harvest of Hope Food Pantry stocked as demand continues to increase. This donation will help to ensure that we will not have to turn anyone away in their time of need. Dominion is and has been a wonderful partner in our efforts to provide critically important supportive services to Salem's most vulnerable families." The total contribution from the Dominion Foundation will provide 21.4 million pounds of food and grocery products for food banks within the 14 states where Dominion operates, according to Feeding America, formerly America's Second Harvest, the nation's leading hunger-relief charity. "With this donation, Dominion demonstrates remarkable compassion," said Vicki B. Escarra, president and chief executive officer of Feeding America. "This act of generosity is truly a holiday gift for low-income people facing hunger in the United States. On behalf of our member food banks and all other food banks sharing this gift, we thank Dominion." This year, Dominion, its charitable foundation and its employees will invest more than $20 million and 100,000 volunteer hours in programs that help improve the quality of life for people in the states where Dominion operates power stations, natural gas and other energy facilities. Grant focus areas included preservation of natural and historic resources, workforce development and education, diversity initiatives, neighborhood and community development, and meeting basic needs for food, shelter and clothing. Dominion is one of the nation's largest producers of energy, with a portfolio of approximately 27,000 megawatts of generation. For more information about Dominion, visit the company's Web site at http://www.dom.com/. DATASOURCE: Dominion Foundation CONTACT: Malia Griffin, Dominion, +1-978-744-0390, Web site: http://www.dom.com/

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