Cargill is proud to announce that the company has made a $600,000 donation toward the construction of the new Northwest Arkansas Food Bank that will serve residents across the counties of Benton, Carroll, Madison and Washington in the Northwest Arkansas region. The donation builds upon Cargill’s legacy and commitment to fighting hunger and comes at a time when the need for food assistance remains high across the nation.
Cargill’s donation will support several projects for the new facility, including an expansion of freezer capacity that will allow the food bank to increase its distribution of frozen protein. Protein, including chicken, beef, pork and some plant-based foods, are the most requested items for people facing hunger. Yet many local food banks lack proper infrastructure to refrigerate and repackage donated proteins in a safe way, resulting in a substantial gap in the amount of protein being distributed versus what is needed.
“This gift toward [the construction of our new center for hunger relief is another example in a long line of support Cargill has given the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank. From donating protein to having fundraisers, to sponsoring a truck, to its team members serving on our board of directors, Cargill has always been there for us,” said Kent Eikenberry, president/ CEO, Northwest Arkansas Food Bank.
Groundbreaking for the new facility was held earlier this year, and it is expected to open for operations in the first quarter of 2023. The Northwest Arkansas region is home to over 70,000 food insecure residents, many of whom rely on the food bank as a critical source of food and nutrition. With the population of the region expected to more than double in the coming years, the food bank is preparing to service a growing number of residents.
“Hunger remains a critical issue that impacts virtually every community across our nation, and Cargill is proud to continue our legacy of support for Feeding America and its network of member food banks,” said Shane Acosta, general manager of Cargill’s Springdale facility. “We’re thrilled to support the development of this new state-of-the-art facility that will play a vital role in fighting hunger across Northwest Arkansas.”
The donation is one of many ways that Cargill is looking to tackle hunger throughout the United States. Cargill recently made a $4.9 million renewed commitment to Feeding America and network food banks and has donated more than $28 million to Feeding America and member food banks in the last 35 years.
