Perdue Farms and The Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore Partner To Unveil New Freezer and Cooler Expansion
September 10, 2021
Salisbury, Md., September 9, 2021 — The Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore in Tasley, Va. today unveiled the Freezer Expansion Project at its Eastern Shore Branch. Sponsored by The Franklin P. and Arthur W. Perdue Foundation and the Eastern Shore of Virginia’s Community Foundation, the freezer and cooler expansion will enable the Foodbank to safely accept and distribute an additional 42,000 pounds of frozen product — specifically protein — and 92,000 pounds of fresh produce to communities on the Eastern Shore and in Southeastern Virginia. With this expansion, the Foodbank expects to provide an additional 111,000 meals to families in need each year.
“The Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore has been intentional in our efforts to address the challenges of hunger and food insecurity in rural communities, which include limited access to fresh, nutritious food,” said Dr. Ruth Jones Nichols, President and CEO of the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore. “This expansion will serve residents throughout our service area, but particularly those who live in food deserts on the Eastern Shore, and we are so grateful for our continued partnership with Perdue Farms who shares in our vision for a hunger-free community.”
In 2020, Perdue Farms awarded the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore with $100,000 to expand its freezer capacity at the Eastern Shore Branch as part of a $1 million Perdue Foundation donation to support 10 Feeding America-affiliated food bank partners in celebration of the company’s 100th anniversary. The Perdue grant aligns with the company’s “Delivering Hope To Our Neighbors®” hunger relief initiative.
“At Perdue Farms, we believe that no one should have to go hungry. We are excited about the expansion and improvements at the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore,” said Kim Nechay, executive director of the Franklin P. and Arthur W. Perdue Foundation. “We have a decades-long partnership with the foodbank and proud that our continued support will help deliver some hope to our Eastern Shore neighbors who struggle with food insecurity.”
For more information on Foodbank programs serving the Eastern Shore and across its 11 city/county service area, visit www.foodbankonline.org.
About the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore
For 40 years, the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore has provided over 300 million meals to those in our community who face hunger. Through our programs, facilities, and large network of community partners, we “eliminate hunger” on a daily basis for many. However, we understand that our current work addresses hunger for individuals in the short term. It does not address the root causes which force individuals to return to a food pantry again and again. This understanding has led to the creation of a 3-year strategic plan aimed to move Hampton Roads closer to achieving the mission of eliminating hunger for those we serve—not only for the day, or for the week, but for a lifetime. For up-to-date information on the Foodbank, visit www.foodbankonline.org, Facebook, or Twitter.
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 Organic Grass-Fed Meats®, Coleman Natural®, and Yummy®, as well as our pet brands, Spot Farms® and Full Moon®, is available through various channels including retail, foodservice, club stores, and our direct-to-consumer website, PerdueFarms.com.
Perdue AgriBusiness is an international agricultural products and services company.
Now in our company’s second century, 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.
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