Tyson Foods, Inc. donated 70,000 pounds of protein on January 27 to food banks in Georgia and Mississippi in response to the deadly tornadoes that devastated the Southeast.
The Mississippi Food Network in Jackson, Mississippi, and Second Harvest of South Georgia in Thomasville, Georgia, each received a donation of chicken that will provide thousands of meals to residents in need.
"We are thankful to have Tyson Foods as one of our corporate partners, who has recognized a need to help in the areas affected by the recent tornadoes. This donation will help us better meet the needs of our partner agencies to provide for the citizens in their devastated communities," said Marilyn Blackledge, director of external affairs, Mississippi Food Network. "In times of disaster, Tyson has always been an organization who comes to our aid and the aid of others."
Food pantries and agencies served by both food banks have had their service interrupted since the storms. Working with those organizations, as well as with individuals who lost their homes and access to groceries, has been a top priority.
"Tyson Foods is a valued long-time partner for Feeding America food banks like Second Harvest of South Georgia in the fight against hunger,” said Eliza McCall, chief marketing officer, Second Harvest of South Georgia. “Their willingness to step up and help at a time like this is a true blessing.”
Among all protein processors, Tyson Foods is the largest donor of meat and poultry to Feeding America and its network of food banks. Tyson Foods has been an active participant in the fight against hunger since 2000, donating more than 100 million pounds of protein. In 2015, Tyson Foods pledged $50 million in cash or in-kind donations by 2020 to fight hunger, with a special focus on innovative initiatives at the local level. In 2016, the company donated $12.5 million for hunger relief.
“Our thoughts are with our friends and neighbors in the Southeast who suffered tremendous losses from these deadly storms,” said Debra Vernon, senior director, corporate social responsibility, Tyson Foods. “As the rebuilding process begins, we hope this donation will help ease the stress of wondering where their next meal will come from.”
Second Harvest of South Georgia is the leading hunger-relief organization in the region and the second largest food bank in the state, serving a 12,675 square mile region made up of 30 counties. In addition to their Valdosta headquarters, the organization has branches in Albany, Douglas and Thomasville. From these four locations, more than 400 partner agencies are served through a variety of programs including the Food Bank, Kids Cafe, Mobile Food Pantry, and Teachers’ Harvest, and others. To learn more, visit FeedingSGA.org.
Mississippi Food Network is a food bank headquartered in Jackson. They are a Feeding America affiliated food bank and serve 56 counties in the central part of Mississippi. They accumulate, store and distribute food and household items to more than 430 member agencies in their service area. Member agencies are either churches or 501c3 nonprofit agencies and include Emergency Food Pantries, Day Care Centers, Emergency Shelters, Group Homes, Soup Kitchens, Teen Centers, Alcohol and Drug Rehabs, Afterschool Programs, Homeless Shelters and Senior Citizen Programs. More than 150,000 people are served each month through member agencies. To learn more about Mississippi Food Network, visit our website at http://www.msfoodnet.org. http://www.facebook.com/MSFoodNetwork @MSFoodNet
