Toronto, November 15, 2012 (PRWeb) Food Banks Canada today announced the release of the HungerCount iPhone application, targeting social and political change-makers. The HungerCount app provides essential information on levels of food bank use in Canada, and insight into who is being helped.

The HungerCount application puts invaluable information about hunger in Canada directly into the palm of your hand. Political leaders, social advocates, researchers, students, and caring members of the public will want this app as part of their tool kit to understand the realities of hunger in Canada – 882,000 separate individuals are helped by food banks each month, and 339,000 of those helped are children.

The HungerCount app - available for download through the Apple iTunes store – provides detailed information on who is being helped, at the national and provincial level.

The HungerCount report, published annually by Food Banks Canada (http://www.foodbankscanada.ca), is the only national study of food banks and other food programs in Canada. It is unique in the depth and breadth of its understanding of food bank use in Canada. The HungerCount report is based on a survey completed by more than 90% of known food banks in Canada, who collect information from those they assist at their facilities during the month of March.

“Mobile applications have become an incredibly valuable vehicle to engage Canadians in important social issues,” said Katharine Schmidt, Executive Director of Food Banks Canada. “With the release of the HungerCount mobile app, we are working to increase understanding of this unacceptable problem, and to build awareness of the pressing need for change in government`s approach to hunger.”

The HungerCount application was developed by Purple Forge (http://www.purpleforge.com). Purple Forge is the world-leading provider of mobile applications to non-profit organizations, and helps organizations cut down on the amount of printed material they have to use in a campaign, while increasing the engagement rates with key material.

"Politicians, policy makers and social advocates in Canada depend on their smartphones and tablet devices for up-to-date and timely information to make informed decisions," said John Craig, Vice-President of Sales and Marketing at Purple Forge. "Food Banks Canada is putting the most current information about hunger into the pockets of these key individuals who will act on all our behalf to reduce hunger in our country.”

Download the app here to get the HungerCount app for iPhone and iPad.

About Food Banks Canada
Food Banks Canada is the national charitable organization representing the food bank community across Canada. Our Members, Affiliate Member food banks, and their respective agencies serve approximately 85% of people accessing emergency food programs nationwide. We continue to work to find short term and long term solutions for the 882,000 Canadians who are assisted by a food bank every month.

About Purple Forge
Purple Forge (http://www.purpleforge.com) sells subscription based services to organizations looking to engage their stakeholders using the latest mobile application technology and leveraging community engagement and social networking best practices. Purple Forge is an award-winning firm led by seasoned mobile communications and Internet technology veterans. Our mobile applications allow organizations to broadcast, share and receive feedback from their target audience real-time, allowing them to foster long-term, engaged relationships.

For more information please contact:

John Craig
Purple Forge
613-863-2673
john(dot)craig(at)purpleforge(dot)com

Marzena Gersho
Food Banks Canada
647-242-5919
marzena(at)foodbankscanada(dot)ca