As part of a company commitment to fight hunger, Perdue Farms has delivered 40,000 pounds of no-antibiotics-ever chicken and a $15,000 grant to the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore. The protein donation represents more than 33,000 meals, while the grant, provided by the Franklin P. and Arthur W. Perdue Foundation, continues Perdue’s support of the Foodbank’s BackPack Program for children on Virginia’s rural Eastern Shore.
“Perdue Farms is an essential partner in our mission to eliminate hunger in Southeastern Virginia and on the Eastern Shore,” said Ruth Jones Nichols, CEO of the Foodbank. “The company’s generous donation of lean protein supports our efforts to improve the nutritional value of the food we provide to those struggling with hunger.”
Perdue and the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore have been partners in the fight against hunger for more than 20 years and, together, have helped provide more than four million meals to seniors, families and children in their service area, where 1 in 7 people struggle with hunger.
“At Perdue, we believe that no one should go hungry. That’s why our long-standing partnership with Feeding America and the Foodback of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore are so important to our shared mission to end hunger,” said Kim Nechay, executive director of the Perdue Foundation. “As a food company, we take very seriously our responsibility to help our neighbors in Southeastern Virginia. We hope that our donations will help those struggling with knowing where their next meal will come from, and maybe it will inspire others to join us in supporting the food bank’s hunger relief programs.”
The Foodbank’s BackPack Program is a nationally replicated initiative providing nourishing food to children at high risk for hunger. It picks up where school meal programs leave off. Each distribution provides a child with five nutritious weekend/holiday meals, including main course items, oatmeal, fruit, vegetables and health snacks.
“Perdue’s continued support of our Backpack Program here on the Eastern Shore has enabled the Foodbank to ensure that 91 children receive the nutrition they need on the weekends when school is not in session,” said Charmin Horton, Eastern Shore Foodbank branch manager. “We are grateful for their generosity and commitment to hunger-relief efforts in our community.”
