Northwest Arkansas Food Bank accepts $152,000 donation from Tyson Foods
by August 2, 2017 3:25 pm 648 views
Tyson Foods Inc. announced Wednesday (Aug. 2) a $152,000 grant to the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank to fund much needed operational efficiency improvements that, once implemented, will save the food bank more than $50,000 in the first year.
The grant, according to a Tyson Foods news release, will cover the cost of a new order picking system, two forklifts, four standard pallet jacks, six electric pallet jacks, 28 freezer racks and 200 freezer blankets.
“On behalf of the 70,000 plus food-insecure persons in Northwest Arkansas whom we serve, I want to extend my deepest appreciation to the team members of Tyson Foods who have made this magnificent donation possible through their hard work,” Kent Eikenberry, President and CEO of the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank, said in the release. “Please remember that because of you and your efforts, someone will eat today.”
The food bank’s distribution has increased by an average of 21% over the past three years, straining equipment and staff as they try to keep pace with demand in a timely and safe manner.
The equipment the food bank will buy because of the Tyson Foods grant will make it easier to store and unload food. For example, the forklifts will reduce the 15 minutes it currently takes to load a full pallet of food down to two minutes. In addition, the time required to unload full semi-trailers will be cut in half, and the electric pallet jacks feature a braking system that will reduce safety hazards, particularly when maneuvering heavy pallets on an incline.
“We’re proud to do our part to help great Feeding America partners like the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank, who work on the front lines every day to end hunger,” Debra Vernon, Tyson Foods’ senior director of corporate social responsibility, said in the release. “We hope this investment will allow them to serve more people, more efficiently, and do so in a safe manner.”
Tyson Foods has been a long-time supporter of the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank and over the last 10 years has donated nearly 7.3 million pounds of product valued at more than $8 million, with 1.3 million pounds of product worth nearly $2 million donated in the past nine months.
An event celebrating the food bank and its partnership with Tyson Foods will take place from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Friday (Aug. 4) at the food bank’s headquarters in Bethel Heights.