Tyson Foods unveils new mobile command center for disaster area meal service

Springdale-based Tyson Foods unveiled a new mobile command center for its Meals that Matter program. The 53-foot trailer can serve approximately 15,000 to 20,000 meals per day to victims, first responders and volunteers at disaster sites.

Tyson said the unit is designed to help set up an organized disaster relief site quickly and act as a central supply unit that supports on-site cook teams that volunteer from Tyson Foods. In addition to the mobile kitchen, Tyson said it also enlists a full deployment of 6-to-7 other tractor-trailers that haul the food products, water and equipment.

Tyson said its disaster relief semi-trailer was first put into action in 2012, following Hurricane Sandy. The program has served millions of meals annually to disaster areas since that time. Most recently the company donated more than 100,000 pounds of protein the equivalent of 404,000 servings to help people impacted by the wildfires in Maui and surrounding areas.

“As we see the continued impact of the devastating wildfires in Hawaii, Tyson Foods remains committed to supporting impacted communities in times of need,” said Tim Grailer, senior director, business operations for Tyson Foods. “We are committed to doing our part in helping the residents of Hawaii and those on the ground by providing support.”

In June, Tyson Foods served around 100,000 meals for tornado relief in northwest Texas. The company donated 27,000 pounds of protein to the communities around Perryton, Texas. The company said it distributed prepackaged sandwiched and other fully cooked items with the help of volunteers from its facilities in Amarillo, Texas and Finney County, Kansas.

One of the longest stays the disaster unit has had was after Hurricanes Harvey in Texas and Irma in Florida. Tyson said it prepared and distributed a combined  2,954,134 meals from Sept. 1–21 in 2017.

The Meals that Matter trailer is based in Springdale.