Tyson Foods has pledged to contribute to the American Red Cross relief and recovery efforts for Hurricane Sandy, Donnie Smith, president and CEO of the company said. A corporate match of up to $100,000 of employee donations will go to support victims of the hurricane.
Smith also said the company dispatched its mobile feeding unit, a 53-food semi-trailer dubbed “Meals that Matter,” and volunteer cook teams to New Jersey last weekend. Teams from corporate headquarters in Arkansas, the company’s transportation group, and a processing plant in Shelbyville, Tennessee, will cook meals for first responders and victims of Sandy as part of a partnership with the American Red Cross. Food for the meals will be furnished by Tyson Foods. The company unveiled the “Meals that Matter” trailer earlier this year to serve as a central supply unit at disaster sites. This will be the first time the unit has been dispatched.
Meanwhile, Perdue Farms has delivered 131,000 pounds of protein to Feeding America-affiliated food banks to assist with hurricane relief efforts in the Northeast. Five tractor-trailer loads of fresh and frozen chicken products–the equivalent of 157,000 meals–were delivered to food banks. The donations were delivered to food banks and distribution centers in the Bronx, Staten Island, and Hauppauge, New York, locations identified by Feeding America to serve hurricane victims in the Northeast.
Perdue has partnered with Feeding America since 2000 in their efforts to fight hunger and provide relief in times of natural disaster. Perdue has pledged a minimum annual donation of two million pounds of food to Feeding America for distribution to community food banks and pantries.
Pilgrim’s and JBS through their employee intranet is encouraging employees to contribute to Feeding America, American Red Cross, and/or United Way. NCC staff understands a number of other member companies are also providing assistance, but does not have specific information about their efforts at this time.
