INDIANAPOLIS -- Sarah Fisher Racing (SFR) today announced its plan to host the 2nd annual "12 Days of Christmas Food Drive" with Indianapolis' St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry (SVdP) to serve as the beneficiary for the second consecutive year.

"We are again excited to work with SVdP food pantry to help those in need," said team owner and driver, Sarah Fisher, who expanded the operations of SFR last week by moving into a 15k square-foot facility on the west-side of Indianapolis. "As we grow our team, hopefully we will be able to raise more than our totals last year. We are very blessed to have such a giving fan base, and in our mission to never forget where we came from, we will continue to help our community. Our annual food drive benefiting SVdP is one of many charitable events we participate in each year."

The food pantry, with an all volunteer staff, provides nutritious meals and groceries for the homeless and working poor of Indiana. According to census data, it is estimated there are over 3,000 homeless Indianapolis residents and Indiana's unemployment rate has steadily been increasing since October 2008, recently rising to 9.8 percent, putting our state even with the national average of 9.8 percent, according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics.

"We are extremely grateful for the efforts of the Sarah Fisher Racing organization in support of our Client Choice Food Pantry at 3001 E. 30th St," said Pat Jerrell, SVdP Indy Council President. "The weekly number of client families served has increased by 15% as compared to a year ago, from 2,850 families to 3,300 families, with many new families registering each week. Rest assured that our all-volunteer Society of St. Vincent de Paul organization will maximize the benefit of all donations received to the thousands of families at-risk for hunger".

The SFR Race Shop, O'Gara's Irish Pub, Cardwell Do-it-Best Home & Garden Center, Lamping Cleaners, and Hogan's Pub will serve as collection sites for non-perishable food donations from Tuesday, December 1 through Saturday, December 12. Cash and food donations will also be accepted through the US Mail to the SFR Race Shop.

Donations such as canned goods and other dried foods with a preferred list below, can be dropped off at any of these locations - the SFR Race Shop at 4701 Rockville Rd, Suite A., Indianapolis, IN, Monday-Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., O'Gara's Irish Pub at 522 Main Street, Beech Grove, IN, Monday- Saturday from 3:00 p.m. to close, Cardwell Do-it-Best Home & Garden Center at 3205 Madison Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46227, Monday-Friday from 8:00 am. to 7:00 p.m., Saturday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00p.m, Sunday 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Hogan's Pub at 104 N 2nd Ave Beech Grove, IN, Monday-Sunday 2:00 p.m. to close, and three Lamping Cleaners locations: 625 Main St, Beech Grove, IN, 3939 S Keystone Ave, Indianapolis, IN or 4030 S Emerson Ave, Indianapolis, IN, Monday-Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry provided the following list of preferred items: cereal, canned meat or fish, soups, canned fruit, rice, pasta, pasta sauce, box dinners, and peanut butter. Typically canned vegetables are in surplus.