Perdue Farms, through the Franklin P. and Arthur W. Perdue Foundation, has provided a $5,000 grant to Georgia Mountain Food Bank’s Fresh Grocery Delivery Program to purchase and deliver fresh nutritious food for schoolchildren in need. The donation is part of Perdue’s “Delivering Hope to Our Neighbors” hunger relief initiative to provide access to nutritious protein for people struggling with hunger and make meaningful progress toward ending hunger.
Through the Gainesville, Ga.,-based food bank’s Fresh Grocery Delivery Program, more than 36,000 pounds of fruit and vegetables are delivered annually to about 510 children during school hours to take home to their siblings and family.
The program educates children and families about better food choices, aiming to make a long-term difference in their lives.
“Funds from the grant support our day-to-day operations enabling us to get the food out to low-income individuals. It takes a collaborative effort of funds and volunteers for us to get the food to those in need. It’s a real community effort.” said Kay Blackstock, Georgia Mountain Food Bank executive director.
Since the Georgia Mountain Food Bank began in 2008, 33 million meals have been delivered to those in need.
“It’s quite an honor to have the support of the Perdue Foundation and for them to assist in us fulfilling our mission. We’re impacting lives together,” said Blackstock.
“We are delighted to support Georgia Mountain Food Bank’s Fresh Grocery Delivery Program with this critical grant. The food bank works tirelessly to identify communities that need help the most and we are happy to partner with them to get these communities fresh nutritious food. This grant will ensure they can acquire and deliver additional foods to our neighbors in need,” said Tonia Snow, Perdue human resources director in Gainesville, Ga.
One in four children faces hunger in Georgia and as they struggle, $160 billion worth of food is wasted annually in the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, including fresh fruits and vegetables that children need to maintain their health.
