Perdue Supports The Full Plate Project to Expand Food Access in Virginia and North Carolina
SALISBURY, Md. (October 22, 2026) — Perdue Farms is helping expand access to nutritious food for families across southeastern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina through a partnership with The Full Plate Project, a grassroots nonprofit working to address food insecurity in the region.
As part of that commitment, the Franklin P. and Arthur W. Perdue Foundation recently awarded a $25,500 grant to support The Full Plate Project’s efforts to rescue food, expand distribution opportunities, and connect more families with nutritious meals.
The Full Plate Project grew from a grassroots effort centered around one refrigerator and a pantry cabinet at the former ForKids daycare building. As the organization began reaching more people than the original pantry could serve, volunteers started distributing food from the trunks of their cars through pop-up events.
Today, those pop-up distributions have expanded to locations across the region, helping the organization rescue more food and reach more neighbors in need.
Perdue recently provided protein for The Full Plate Project’s first weekday pop-up distribution. The event served 75 families, with some community members arriving two hours before the scheduled start time. In one week alone, the nonprofit provided food to 682 people in Suffolk, Virginia.
“There’s nothing more rewarding than seeing the relief on someone’s face when they realize they don’t have to worry about where their next meal is coming from,” said Robin Dyksterhouse, Community Outreach Director for The Full Plate Project. “Being part of this work truly warms my heart because these aren’t just numbers to us. They’re our neighbors, our seniors, our families, and our friends. Support from Perdue helps us reach more people with nutritious food and reminds them that their community cares about them.”
“At Perdue, our business is built around food, but our responsibility extends beyond producing it. It means helping ensure more families have access to the nutritious protein they need to put meals on the table,” said Kim Nechay, executive director of the Franklin P. and Arthur W. Perdue Foundation. “The Full Plate Project has shown how a small, grassroots effort can grow into something that touches hundreds of lives, and we’re proud to support the work they’re doing to reach more of our neighbors. When families are waiting hours for food, it reminds us why this work matters and why strong community partnerships are so important. Through the Perdue Foundation, we’re honored to help turn our commitment to nourishing people into meaningful action in the communities where we live and work.”
For one Perdue associate, the partnership is especially meaningful. David Hill Sr., a Perdue Transportation Incorporated driver, became involved through his wife, Patricia, who met The Full Plate Project’s Mary Perdue while volunteering at the food pantry. David later endorsed The Full Plate Project’s grant application, helping connect the nonprofit with Perdue.
“To know the company that helps put food on my table was willing to help put food on so many other people’s tables made me feel good,” David said. “Being able to bring the two organizations together and help more people is something that really made me smile.”
The partnership reflects Perdue’s Delivering Hope to Our Neighbors initiative, which brings together Perdue associates and community partners to help fight hunger and strengthen the communities where Perdue associates live and work. Through partnerships like this one, Perdue is helping local organizations expand their reach and make a meaningful difference for neighbors facing food insecurity.
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.
Perdue Foods consists of a premium protein portfolio, including our flagship PERDUE® brand, Niman Ranch®, Coleman Natural®, Pasturebird® and Yummy®, as well as our pet brands, Full Moon® and Spot Farms®. Our products are available through various channels, including retail, foodservice, club stores and our direct-to-consumer website, PerdueFarms.com.
Perdue AgriBusiness is a leading merchandiser, processor and exporter of agricultural products and the largest U.S. manufacturer of specialty, organic and non-GMO oils. It also ranks as one of the largest suppliers of organic feed ingredients in the world.
Now in our company’s second century, 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 and USDA-certified organic proteins. Learn more at Corporate.PerdueFarms.com.