Foster Farms has kicked off its annual West Coast Thanksgiving turkey donation program. Working with local food banks from San Diego to Seattle, the company will deliver enough turkey to help make a Thanksgiving dinner possible for more than 100,000 people in need.
Despite a strong economy, millions of Americans still struggle with food insecurity. On the West Coast alone, more than six million people are food insecure. In California, nearly one in eight adults – and one in five children – do not receive the daily minimum sustenance recommended by the USDA.
Foster Farms formally began its Thanksgiving turkey donation program in 2008 and, since that time, has provided assistance to more than one million West Coast residents. Among Foster Farms’ longtime partners in the fight against hunger is Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services, which will receive nearly 13,000 pounds of turkey to support its annual holiday food drive.
“It’s hard to believe that in Sacramento – the ‘Farm to Fork’ capital of California – despite the abundance of so much locally grown food, too many of our friends and neighbors go hungry,” said Blake Young, president and CEO of Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services. “Foster Farms has always stepped up to help out, and their generous donation will not only provide much needed protein, but also help to raise awareness in the community.”
“Foster Farms has benefited from the loyalty of West Coast families from generation to generation. We feel a responsibility to respond in kind, especially at this time of year, when everyone deserves the comfort of a Thanksgiving meal,” said Ira Brill, Foster Farms’ vice president communications.
Foster Farms encourages others to join them in the fight against hunger and to donate to their local food bank. Among the food banks receiving donations this year are:
- Second Harvest Food Bank - Manteca, California
- SF-Marin Food Bank - San Francisco, California
- Northwest Harvest - Seattle
- Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services - Sacramento, California
- Oregon Food Bank - Portland, Oregon
- Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank - San Diego, California
Foster Farms provides Thanksgiving home cooks turkey tips, cooking times, recipes and support online at https://www.fosterfarms.com/campaigns/thanksgiving/. Having a turkey conundrum? Between November 18 and December 4, 2019, consumers can call for live phone support from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. PST on weekdays at 1-800-255-7227. In 2018, Foster Farms representatives answered nearly 3,000 turkey-related calls, emails, and social media questions.
