Prior to Thanksgiving, Cargill helped provide families in Northwest and West Central Arkansas with nutritious turkeys for their dinner tables. Cargill’s donation supported families in need with a donation of nearly 2,000 Honeysuckle White whole turkeys each to the Northwest Arkansas (NWA) Food Bank and the River Valley Regional Food Bank.
“We hope to reach almost 4,000 families in our community with our donation. Whether a family is going through a difficult time or regularly seeks assistance from our local food banks, they deserve to have access to nutritional, wholesome, delicious protein,” said Shane Acosta, Cargill’s Springdale complex general manager. “We are thrilled to be a part of a mission dedicated to placing turkey on the plates of those who would otherwise not be able to afford it during the holiday season.”
The NWA Food Bank supports more than 121,000 people in four counties that are identified as the most food insecure region in Arkansas. The River Valley Regional Food Bank provides support for more than 55,000 Arkansans living in a region, where approximately 18 percent of the population are food insecure. The food banks provide support that includes distribution of products to agencies in their respective areas, such as food pantries, senior centers, shelters, after-school programs, day care programs and other non-profit organizations.
Statistics show that one in five people in the state of Arkansas struggles with hunger, compared to a national average of one in seven people, according to Feeding America, one of Cargill’s nutrition and health partners. Arkansas is ranked second on the nation’s list of most food insecure states, with 20 percent of its residents identifying as food insecure in 2016.
“Nourishing people is woven into Cargill’s cultural fiber, and we are proud to demonstrate what that means in our very own community,” said Acosta. “We value the partnerships we have with the local food banks to help support their mission in any way that we can. The farmers who own the 700 independent farms that raise turkeys for Cargill share our pride in helping nourish people throughout America.”
In the past year, the Springdale facility has donated more than $125,000 to local organizations.
