Organizations provide $1.9 million in food, essentials for struggling families during four-month initiative
Feed the Children, a leading nonprofit focused on alleviating childhood hunger, Tyson Foods and Americold concluded their 10-city “Alliance to Defeat Hunger” tour Sept. 30 in Oklahoma City by providing food and essentials to vulnerable families. During the four-month initiative, the organizations served thousands of families across the U.S., supplementing nearly 2 million meals and providing more than 250 tons of foods and essentials to families valued at nearly $1.9 million. This includes more than 173 tons of nutritious protein items from Tyson Foods as well as 85 tons of nonperishable food items and household essentials and educational supplies.
In addition to Oklahoma City, tour stops included Springdale, Ark.; Tolleson, Ariz.; New Holland, Pa.; Garden City, Kan.; Sanford, N.C.; Pasco, Wash.; Sioux City, Iowa; Amarillo, Texas; and Sebree, Ken.
From June through September, the organizations crisscrossed the country distributing 25-pound boxes of non-perishable food; 15-pound boxes of essentials such as shampoo, conditioner, lotion and personal-care items; Tyson products and additional items to help feed struggling families at each tour stop. The companies also partnered with schools in each community to set up a pantry where children and their families can access food, school supplies and personal hygiene products during or after school hours.
“As a local pantry who operates to serve the most vulnerable in our community with their food needs it takes multiple willing partners,” said Erik Vaughan, executive director of Feed The 479. “The Alliance to Defeat Hunger and partners like Tyson Foods, Americold and Feed the Children helped feed over three hundred families in one day, but the impact was far more reaching. New families and new partners continue to serve through Feed The 479 where this year alone over 130,000 individuals had their needed healthy food options. We are proud to partner with these organizations to help achieve reaching our community with lifesaving needs.”
The tour focused on rural communities in America, where struggling families have less access to nutritious food and limited support for feeding programs to help kids and families.
“We’re proud to be a part of this tour that has helped so many families in rural communities across the United States,” said Debra Vernon, senior director, corporate social responsibility, Tyson Foods. “We’re committed to supporting hunger relief efforts across the country, and this initiative has provided critical resources to those who need it most.”
Feed the Children and Tyson Foods have partnered for 19 years, providing protein to families across the country. Feed the Children and Americold also have had a multi-year partnership to fight hunger that has included donations of critical funds, temperature-controlled transportation and warehouse space.
“By partnering with Feed the Children and Tyson Foods in this alliance to defeat hunger, we’ve been able to expand our efforts to provide for families and children in need across the country. This tour is another way we’ve demonstrated our commitment to give back and support the communities where our associates live and work,” said Fred Boehler, President and CEO of Americold.
It is estimated 1 in 6 children are food insecure due to the economic effects of the pandemic. A recent Brookings Institution study emphasized just how important the availability of nutritious food is today when it revealed that food insecurity has increased a staggering 130 percent in households with children under 18 since 2018. That’s why Feed the Children works with public and private partners to ensure everyone, everywhere, has access to the safe, healthy and nutritious food they need.
“The Americold and Tyson Foods partnership means so much to Feed the Children, and more importantly, to the families we serve,” said Travis Arnold, president and CEO, Feed the Children. “Those living paycheck-to-paycheck do not have a safety net. Our partners are a critical part of providing compassionate support to those who are facing tough decisions about how to care for their families.”
To learn more about how Feed the Children works in communities across the U.S. and in eight countries around the world, visit feedthechildren.org.
For more information, www.tysonfoods.com or www.americold.com.
