Tyson Foods pledges to support food banks, reduce waste

Tyson Foods, Springdale, Arkansas, announced May 2 that it is providing nearly $1.2 million in grants to 18 Feeding America food banks in 15 states. The investments represent approximately four million pounds of food, or the equivalent of 16 million servings of protein, that will be distributed to address food insecurity. 

Tyson Foods is a mission partner of Feeding America and supports its network of food banks with financial contributions, product donations, disaster relief assistance and volunteerism.

The company’s efforts to support its communities include $160,000 to the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore for its food rescue program based in Tasley, Virginia. The initiative collects prepared and perishable food from 150 area grocery stores, restaurants, caterers and discount retailers for distribution to the food insecure. The grant is expected to add an estimated 96,000 pounds annually to the food rescue program.

“The support we receive from partners like Tyson Foods is invaluable to our mission to eliminate hunger in our community,” Charmin Horton, branch manager, Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore, says. “Through this grant, we will be able to provide an additional 80,000 meals to families facing food insecurity— significantly increasing our impact in the region.”

Tyson Foods also awarded $125,000 to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee in Nashville, Tennessee. The grant will be used to complete the food bank’s transition to AgencyLinkTN, an e-commerce platform that manages the 32,000,000 pounds of food distributed to the food bank’s network of agencies. Funds will be used to establish a mobile pantry that is expected to deliver 240,000 pounds of produce, dry goods and canned protein via monthly distributions.

“Food banks can’t end hunger alone,” Jaynee Day, president and CEO of Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee, says. “That is why we are so grateful for partners like Tyson Foods that are truly committed to ending hunger. This funding will not only allow us to upgrade our technology so we can work more efficiently with our partner agencies, but it will also provide much-needed food to our neighbors in need.”

An $80,000 grant was awarded to the Northeast Iowa Food Bank, Waterloo, Iowa, for refrigeration renovation of the food bank’s clean and sort room for the safe and efficient repacking of bulk protein donations. Once renovations are complete, the food bank expects to repack approximately 240,000 pounds of protein in the first year. 

“One of the most requested items the Northeast Iowa Food Bank receives from both our member agencies and the clients we serve is protein,” Barbara Prather, executive director of the Northeast Iowa Food Bank, says. “The addition of the cold room to our facility will enable us to repackage bulk meat product and distribute it more readily to people in need through our member agencies and programs. Tyson Foods’ partnership with the food bank is once again enabling us to build capacity and help us work to close the meal gap.”