As part of its commitment in the fight against hunger, Perdue Farms has donated a $10,000 grant through the Franklin P. and Arthur W. Perdue Foundation and delivered more than 21,000 pounds of no-antibiotics-ever chicken to continue support for the Food Bank of the Albemarle Mobile Food Pantry serving western Bertie County, North Carolina.
The Mobile Food Pantry provides nutritious food to those struggling with hunger in the Lewiston-Woodville, Kelford and Roxobel communities in Eastern North Carolina. “The Perdue Foundation is one of our strongest partners in the fight again hunger,” said Food Bank of the Albemarle Executive Director Liz Reasoner. “We are especially grateful for the continued funding support and protein donation made by Perdue to help the families facing food insecurity in western Bertie County.”
According to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, more than 4,600 people in Bertie County, or 22.7 percent of the population, are food insecure with an estimated 930 children under 18 years of age. There are more than 2,000 senior citizens living at or below the poverty line in Bertie County.
“The Mobile Pantry Program in Bertie Country is providing a powerful resource in the fight against hunger and a platform for our associates to engage in helping their neighbors,” said Jeff Stalls, director of Perdue operations in Lewiston. Perdue associates regularly assist with the monthly food distributions. “There are so many people right here in our local communities who struggle to put food on the table. We’re proud to continue our support through our partnership with the Food Bank of the Albemarle.”
The mobile pantry distribution is currently serving an average of 169 individual per month, and provides much-needed protein, fresh produce and other nutritious food to the hungry men, women, and children of the area. Of all households who receive food assistance in Bertie County, 19 percent are served through the food bank’s mobile food pantry. The Food Bank estimates that Bertie County residents will receive more than 78,000 meals through the mobile food pantry through June 2019.
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.
