Central & Eastern North Carolina Food Bank Names International Paper a 2020 Essential Supporter

RIEGELWOOD, N.C., Nov. 4, 2020 /3BL Media/ - On Sept. 25, the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina (the Food Bank) named International Paper a 2020 Essential Supporter in recognition of the company’s commitment to identifying sustainable solutions in the fight to end hunger.

In support of International Paper’s #HelpFillTheBoxes campaign to assist organizations in fighting hunger during the COVID-19 pandemic, Global Cellulose Fibers’ Riegelwood and New Bern, N.C., mills collaborated with the company’s Community Engagement team and the North American Container business to donate 16,000 corrugated boxes. Boxes were packaged and distributed to the 34-county service area and picked up by nonprofit partners for families in the area.

“Our communities are relying on deliveries now more than ever,” said Kevin Driscoll, mill manager, Riegelwood, N.C., Mill. “We are happy to support the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina to provide much needed food to the increasing number of people in need during this pandemic.”

The two mills also conducted food drives, collecting more than 750 pounds of food and personal hygiene products for Food Bank locations in Wilmington and New Bern. The mills also awarded more than $10,000 in IP Foundation grants to support children’s food programs in Columbus and Craven counties.

“We are so thankful for this donation of boxes from International Paper to support our COVID-19 response,” said Peter Werbicki, President and CEO, Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina. “With this donation we’re able to provide food-insecure individuals and families across central and eastern NC with nourishing foods during this crisis.”

About the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina

The Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina is a nonprofit organization that has provided food for people at risk of hunger in 34 counties in central and eastern North Carolina for 40 years. The Food Bank serves a network of more than 900 partner agencies such as soup kitchens, food pantries, shelters, and programs for children and adults through warehouses in Durham, Greenville, New Bern, Raleigh, the Sandhills (Southern Pines), and Wilmington. In fiscal year 2019-2020, the Food Bank distributed nearly 92 million pounds of food (over half of which was perishable) and non-food essentials through these agencies. Sadly, hunger remains a serious problem in central and eastern North Carolina. In these counties, nearly 760,000 people struggle to access nutritious and adequate amounts of food necessary for an active and healthy life. foodbankcenc.org.

About International Paper

International Paper (NYSE: IP) is a leading global producer of renewable fiber-based packaging, pulp and paper products with manufacturing operations in North America, Latin America, Europe, North Africa and Russia. We produce corrugated packaging products that protect and promote goods and enable world-wide commerce; pulp for diapers, tissue, and other personal hygiene products that promote health and wellness; and papers that facilitate education and communication. We are headquartered in Memphis, Tenn., employ more than 50,000 colleagues and serve more than 25,000 customers in 150 countries. Net sales for 2019 were $22 billion. For more information about International Paper, our products and global citizenship efforts, please visit internationalpaper.com. See how we’re building a better future for people, the planet and our company at internationalpaper.com/Vision-2030.