Press Release: October 16, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Pilgrim Food Distribution Brings Relief To Thousands In Uganda

A Unique Partnership With Barclays Bank and the Vine International School

Seattle, WA, USA - October 16, 2009

Pilgrim, a Christian aid, relief, and development organization operating primarily in Uganda with U.S. headquarters in Seattle, has completed food distribution to about 500 households - over 3000 people -- in the Amuria district in northeast Uganda. The food distribution project was the result of a partnership between Pilgrim, Vine International School, and Barclays Bank.

According to Marc Fulmer, deputy executive director for Pilgrim, "Barclays Bank and Vine International School wanted to purchase food to help the people of the drought-stricken region, but they had no way of distributing the food. That's where Pilgrim came in. We have people on the ground who could make sure that the food actually got to the people who needed it.?

Fulmer added, "Too often, food gets shipped from the west in huge containers, but never makes it the last few miles to the people who need it. It gets diverted to the black market, or sometimes simply rots on loading docks. By having trustworthy people in Uganda, we can be sure that the food is having maximum impact."

This program is part of Pilgrim's ongoing commitment to the people of Uganda. "Pilgrim's long-term strategy is to transition farmers from survival food production to income-generating production by enhancing agricultural productivity and infrastructure development in the region," Fulmer said. "We are hoping to partner with the World Food Program and USAID to support 4,000 smallholder farmers and 30 medium scale traders in 11 districts in Uganda to bring this transformation about. While we are grateful for the chance to distribute food that relieves suffering today, our ultimate goal is to make such food distribution projects obsolete."

About Pilgrim: Pilgrim is a Christian aid, relief, and development organization operating primarily in Uganda, with U.S. headquarters in Seattle. Pilgrim provides disaster relief as well as ongoing aid and development assistance to widows, orphans, and others in Uganda.

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