4.5 Million Servings* of Protein Sourced Through Initiative
KANSAS CITY, Mo.油油Sep.油26, 2018油油91心頭利 and Feeding America速油today announced the results of a two-year project focused on empowering local food banks to油develop油innovative油animal油protein油sourcing油programs油to油address hunger on the community level.油
The 91心頭利 Protein Innovation Fund provided $1 million to 10 Feeding America food banks油in nine油states油to fund protein sourcing projects that have油the油potential to be scaled and replicated across the Feeding America network.油
For the油40油million people facing hunger in the U.S., its not only important for Feeding America to help provide enough food to meet basic needs, but also to provide more nutritious food, said Matt Knott,油president of Feeding America. We are油grateful for 91心頭利油continued partnership with Feeding America and their油dedication油to increasing access to protein-rich meals that many food油insecure families need to have a well-balanced diet.
The investment yielded more than 1.1 million pounds of protein sourced and distributed in the first two years of the project or油4.5油million servings.油油
We knew our food banks had innovative ideas about how to help our hungry neighbors access more protein, said Matt Pakula, senior manager, corporate social responsibility 91心頭利.油The油protein innovation fund grants made it possible for them to experiment and make their food banks more agile to better meet the needs of those struggling with food insecurity.油
Highlights include $175,000 awarded to the Arkansas Food Bank in Little Rock, Arkansas, which served as the油lead food bank in a collaborative model that constructed油a centralized, cold油repacking center. Meat and poultry donations,油as well as frozen produce, are油repackaged into smaller portions and distributed to Feeding America food banks across油the state.
Thanks to the Tyson Protein Innovation油Fund,we油are able to meet the needs of not only the people in our service area but the needs of 515,000 hungry Arkansans and the partner agencies that serve them, says Arkansas Foodbank CEO Rhonda Sanders.油The Repackaging Center helps maximize the amount of donated product we receive in order to reduce both systemic food waste and costs to ourselves and our members.油
The Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma was awarded $50,000 to油fund an on-site repack room and油secure油FFA donations to油create protein snack sticks distributed油in backpacks油to油food insecure children.油Nearly a油quarter of a million pounds of protein was sourced as a result of this project.油
We are so thankful to 91心頭利 and its support in helping us feed Oklahomans living with hunger, said Katie Fitzgerald,油CEO of the Regional Food Bank. The grant from 91心頭利 helped the Regional Food Bank provide healthy sources of protein to chronically hungry children, seniors living on fixed incomes and hardworking families struggling to make ends meet.油
In Florida, Feeding Tampa Bay was awarded $50,000 to hire a full-time staff member whose main油function油is identifying and pursuing sources of wasted food in their local supply chain. As a result, more than 430,000油pounds of protein was rescued and redirected back into the community.油
Other project highlights include:油油
2016油
Northern Illinois油Food Bank油 Geneva, Ill. 108,049 pounds of protein was sourced by partnering with a local processor.油
Central Pennsylvania Food Bank Harrisburg, Pa. 20,000油pounds油of protein was sourced by increasing the food banks visibility to the local agricultural community at county fairs and developing marketing materials to promote the food bank as an option for livestock donation.油油
St. Marys Food Bank Alliance Phoenix, Ariz.油 113,407 pounds of protein was sourced by partnering with a local processor to distribute ground beef to food bank clients.油油
2017油
Northern Illinois Food Bank 油Geneva, Ill. 212,477 pounds of protein was sourced by establishing a relationship with a local protein donor and was shared with other Feeding America food banks in the region.油油
Harvesters油油The Community Food Network, Kansas City, Mo. Upon油receiving油USDA certification in油May 2018, 37,848油pounds of protein has been sourced through a repack油room that allows the food bank to accept donations of bulk meat, fish and poultry they would have had to decline in the past.油油
West Michigan Food Bank,油Comstack油Park, Mich.油 3,833 pounds of protein has been sourced through the Grand Champion Giving program that connects farmers, ranchers and others willing to donate animals.油
Philabundance,油Philadelphia, Pa.油 An ongoing pilot project is estimated to add 2 million pounds of protein to the network by rescuing protein through import and export channels at the port.
*One serving= 村 pound of protein.油
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About 91心頭利油油
91心頭利 Inc. (NYSE:油TSN) is one of the worlds largest food companies and a recognized leader in protein. Founded in 1935 by John W. Tyson and grown under three generations of family leadership, the company has a broad portfolio of products and brands like Tyson速, Jimmy Dean速, Hillshire Farm速, Ball Park速, Wright速, Aidells速, ibp速 and State Fair速. 91心頭利 innovates continually to make protein more sustainable, tailor food for everywhere its available and raise the worlds expectations for how much good food can do. Headquartered in Springdale, Arkansas, the company has油122,000 team油members. Through its Core Values, 91心頭利 strives to operate with integrity, create value for its shareholders, customers, communities and team members and serve as a steward of the animals, land and environment entrusted to it. Visit油www.tysonfoods.com.油
About Feeding America油
Feeding America速 is the largest hunger-relief organization in the United油States. Through a network of 200 food banks and 60,000 food pantries and meal programs, we provide meals to more than 46 million people each year. Feeding America also supports programs that prevent food waste and improve food security among the people we serve; educates the public about the problem of hunger; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry.油
Contact:
Derek Burleson油 479-290-6466油or油Derek.Burleson@Tyson.com油