From left to right are Kathy McCollum, executive director, Middle Georgia Community Food Bank; Michael Bentley, associate relations human resources manager, Perdue, and Kerisia Wasztyl, vice president, board of directors, Middle Georgia Community Food Bank.
Perdue Farms $100,000 Grant Provides Middle Georgia Community Food Bank New Refrigerated Truck To Support Food Distribution Amid Pandemic
Part Of Company’s $1M Gift To Food Banks In Its Communities In Celebration Of Centennial
December 1, 2020
Salisbury, Md. (Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2020) — Perdue Farms and Middle Georgia Community Food Bank of Macon, Ga., have unveiled a new refrigerated box truck to support the distribution of food within the food bank’s 24 counties it serves. The 26-foot truck was funded through a $100,000 grant by the Franklin P. and Arthur W. Perdue Foundation, the charitable giving arm of Perdue Farms, in conjunction with the company’s 100th anniversary.
“This incredibly generous donation from the Perdue Foundation allowed us to purchase a new truck that greatly improved the reliability of transportation of food for mobile distributions and in picking up donations from retail partners and food processors,” said Kathy McCollum, executive director of the Middle Georgia Community Food Bank. “Perdue makes a positive impact to meet the needs of our neighbors every day.”
Perdue’s gift has enabled Middle Georgia Community Food Bank to expand distribution of food in support of its mobile pantry program. Fully loaded, the co-branded Perdue and food bank truck can transport roughly 14,000 pounds of healthy food, providing more than 11,667 meals to hungry neighbors. This truck also enables Middle Georgia Community Food Bank to pick up perishable food donations from Perdue, wholesalers, grocery partners and other food processors.
The Perdue Foundation gift aligns with the company’s “Delivering Hope To Our Neighbors” hunger relief initiative focused on providing access to nutritious protein for people struggling with hunger and making meaningful progress toward ending hunger. In January, the Perdue Foundation announced a $1 million donation to support 10 of its Feeding America®-affiliated food bank partners in celebration of the company’s 100th anniversary.
“At Perdue Farms, we’re committed to doing all that we can to support the communities we call home, and value our ability to help address the issue of food insecurity,” said Kim Nechay, executive director of the Perdue Foundation. “We’re thrilled that we can strengthen our partnership with Middle Georgia Community Food Bank through this gift and enhance their ability to help meet the needs of our neighbors in the region, especially during this uncertain time.”
Over the course of the partnership with Middle Georgia Community Food Bank, Perdue has delivered more than 2.4 million pounds of nutritious chicken, Perdue associate volunteer support and additional funds to enable the food bank and its agency network to feed its hungy neighbors.
About Middle Georgia Community Food Bank
The mission of the Middle Georgia Community Food Bank is to provide the maximum amount of food possible to participating food pantries at the lowest possible cost in order to reach the maximum number of hungry neighbors in need. Founded in 1981, the food bank is a member of Feeding America and serves 24 counties in middle Georgia.
About the Franklin P. and Arthur W. Perdue Foundation
The Franklin P. and Arthur W. Perdue Foundation, the charitable giving arm of Perdue Farms, was established in 1957 by company founder Arthur W. Perdue and is funded through the estates of Arthur W. Perdue and Frank Perdue. As part of our belief in supporting the communities where and with whom we do business, the Foundation provides grants on behalf of Perdue Farms in communities where large numbers of our associates live and work. At Perdue Farms, we believe in responsible food and agriculture®.
About Perdue Farms
We’re a fourth-generation, family owned, U.S. food and agriculture company. Through our belief in responsible food and agriculture, we are empowering consumers, customers, and farmers through trusted choices in products and services.
The premium protein portfolio within our Perdue Foods business, including our flagship PERDUE® brand, Niman Ranch®, Panorama Grass Fed Beef®, and Coleman Natural®, as well as our pet brands, Spot Farms and Full Moon, is available through retail, foodservice, and our new direct-to-consumer website, PerdueFarms.com.
Perdue AgriBusiness is an international agricultural products and services company.
Now in our company’s centennial year, our path forward is about getting better, not just bigger. We never use drugs for growth promotion in raising poultry and livestock, and we are actively advancing our animal welfare programs. Our brands are leaders in no-antibiotics-ever chicken, turkey, pork, beef and lamb, and in USDA-certified organic chicken and beef. Learn more at corporate.perduefarms.com.
