INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, PepsiCo, Feed The Children, Midwest Food Bank and Marsh Supermarket are providing two semi tractor-trailers full of food and essentials to help 800 families in need. The food and essentials will be distributed to families beginning at noon at Midwest Food Bank (6450 South Belmont) in Indianapolis.

Nearly one in three children living in Indianapolis (31.4 percent) is considered impoverished. The number of children living in poverty in Indiana (342,172) could fill Lucas Oil Stadium more than five times.

PepsiCo is a longtime partner with Feed The Children and is sponsoring the distribution. PepsiCo and Marsh Supermarket are providing products to families at the event, including Frito-Lay snacks, Quaker Oats and Quaker granola bars, Gatorade and fresh produce.

Feed The Children partner agency Midwest Food Bank has pre-identified families receiving the boxes. Each family will receive a 25-pound box of food and a 10-pound box of personal care items. The boxes are designed to help a family of four for up to one week.

The distribution is part of Feed The Children's Americans Feeding Americans Caravan, which has helped more than 400,000 families across the country since it began in 2009.

"We sincerely appreciate PepsiCo for making this distribution possible to support Indianapolis families adversely affected by the economy," said Tony Sellars, spokesperson for Feed The Children. "With their help, along with Midwest Food Bank, this distribution will provide relief for them at a crucial time."

Feed The Children
Since 1979, Feed The Children has consistently ranked as one of the largest international charities in the U.S., based on private, non-government support. Our mission is providing hope and resources for those without life's essentials. In FY 2011, Feed The Children distributed more than 104 million pounds of food and other essentials to children and their families in all 50 states and internationally. For more information, visit www.feedthechildren.org.  

About PepsiCo
PepsiCo is a global food and beverage leader with net revenues of more than $65 billion and a product portfolio that includes 22 brands that generate more than $1 billion each in annual retail sales. Our main businesses – Quaker, Tropicana, Gatorade, Frito-Lay and Pepsi-Cola – make hundreds of enjoyable foods and beverages that are loved throughout the world. PepsiCo's people are united by our unique commitment to sustainable growth by investing in a healthier future for people and our planet, which we believe also means a more successful future for PepsiCo. We call this commitment Performance with Purpose: PepsiCo's promise to provide a wide range of foods and beverages for local tastes; to find innovative ways to minimize our impact on the environment by conserving energy and water and reducing packaging volume; to provide a great workplace for our associates; and to respect, support and invest in the local communities where we operate. For more information, please visit www.pepsico.com.  

SOURCE Frito-Lay North America