Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Tyson Foods Grant to Help Serve Hungry Neighbors

Aug 30, 2018 3:45 PM ET

NASHVILLE, Tenn., August 30, 2018 /3BL Media/ – As part of Tyson Foods’ commitment to support the communities it serves, the company announced today a $125,000 grant to Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee. The investment will bolster the food bank’s ability to supply its agency partners and pantries with a variety of food through two projects.

The first project includes a $37,000 donation to fully fund twelve monthly mobile pantry distributions in Shelbyville, Tennessee, a Tyson Foods community. These monthly distributions are expected to deliver a total of 240,000 pounds of produce, dry goods and canned protein.

The second project includes $88,000 to assist in rebuilding Second Harvest’s eCommerce platform, AgencyLinkTN, anonline platform that allows Second Harvest’s network of 490 food pantries, soup kitchens, and other hunger relief agencies to easily access food recovered by the food bank across its 46-county service area. This effort aligns with Tyson Foods’ goals of increasing effectiveness and efficiency of transportation systems, warehouse operations, food distribution, and revenue creation for the food bank, helping thousands of Tennesseans who are food insecure.

“For 40 years, Second Harvest has served Middle Tennessee in addressing this pressing need that affects one-in-eight of our neighbors, with one-in-five of them being children,” said Jaynee Day, President and CEO for Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee. “The support we receive from community partners like Tyson is critical to helping those who are experiencing food insecurity in Middle Tennessee, and we’re incredibly thankful for the company’s efforts to help the communities they serve.”

Tyson’s Shelbyville Complex is located in Bedford County, which has a large incidence of food insecurity, with more than 6,760 people regularly uncertain as to where their next meal will come from.

“We’re proud to support Second Harvest and their mission to provide relief to those struggling with hunger,” said Debra Vernon, senior director, corporate social responsibility, Tyson Foods. “By investing in both mobile pantries and new technology that allows the food bank to operate more effectively, we hope to make measurable progress in the fight against hunger.”

Tyson Foods is a Mission Partner of Feeding America and supports its network of food banks with financial contributions, product donations of much needed protein, disaster relief assistance, and volunteerism.

For more information about Second Harvest and the ways it partners with community organizations, visit HTTPS://SECONDHARVESTMIDTN.ORG/.

About Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee

For 40 years, Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee has followed its mission of feeding hungry people and finding innovative ways to solve hunger issues in our communities. As a private, not-for-profit and tax-exempt organization, Second Harvest distributes food and other products to approximately 490 nonprofit partner agencies in 46 counties in Middle and West Tennessee. Our partners include food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, childcare facilities, senior centers, group homes, and youth enrichment programs. For more information about Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee, its mission and programs, please visit SECONDHARVESTMIDTN.ORG.

About Tyson Foods

Tyson Foods,Inc. (NYSE: TSN) is one of the world’s 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®, Jimmy Dean®, Hillshire Farm®, Ball Park®, Wright®, Aidells®, ibp® and State Fair®.Tyson Foods innovates continually to make protein more sustainable, tailor food for everywhere it’s available and raise the world’s expectations for how much good food can do. Headquartered in Springdale, Arkansas, the company has 122,000 team members. Through its Core Values, Tyson Foods 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 WWW.TYSONFOODS.COM.