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Tyson Foods awards $40,000 to SEMO Food Bank for mobile food distributions
SIKESTON – Tyson Foods has awarded a $40,000 grant to Southeast Missouri Food Bank to help fight food insecurity. The funds will be used to support nutritious food distributed through Truck to Table Mobile Food Pantries in Stoddard, Scott and Dunklin counties.
“We are thrilled to receive this grant from Tyson Foods,” said Joey Keys, food bank chief executive officer. “This will help us increase our distribution efforts to make sure hungry southeast Missourians get the quality, nutritious food they need.”
Food insecurity affects one in six families in southeast Missouri and one in five children, leaving them unsure of their next meal.
“We’re proud to support Southeast Missouri Food Bank and its mission to end hunger,” said Mark Avery, plant manager of Tyson Foods in Dexter. “Enabling our partners to address food insecurity by supporting the mobile pantry program is a critical part of our hunger relief strategy.”
Food insecurity increased exponentially during the COVID pandemic as businesses were forced to close, and employees lost jobs or faced reduced hours. Many families are still struggling to catch up financially and are using the food bank’s services, Keys said.
The mobiles funded by Tyson will includes increased amounts of healthy produce and lean protein.
“Healthy food is difficult to afford on a limited budget and is the least likely food to be donated,” Keys said. “Tyson funding is instrumental in helping us provide more of these healthy items to our neighbors in need, so they don’t face skipped meals or going to bed hungry.”
Dates and times for the Tyson-funded mobiles can be found on the food bank’s website at semofoodbank.org.