Local Food Bank Receives 15 Tons of Protein From Tyson Foods

June 8, 2010

OKLAHOMA CITY - In response to a call for donations by the 2010 Oklahoma Speaker's Ball, Tyson Foods delivered more than 31,000 pounds of much-needed protein to the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma today. The donation will provide 23,875 meals to the hungry in 53 central and western counties. 

“The growth seen in the number of Oklahomans struggling to have their food needs met on a daily basis prompted my wife, Allison, and I to choose the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma as one of the beneficiaries of this year’s Speaker’s Ball,” said Speaker of the House Chris Benge. “We are very pleased that Tyson Foods has responded to the need so generously.”

In November, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service (USDA) reported that 49 million Americans, including nearly 17 million children are food insecure. This is an increase of 36 percent over the previous year. Oklahoma ranks as the sixth hungriest state in the nation. 

“This significant food donation from Tyson will allow us to impact lives when the need for food has never been greater,” said,Rodney Bivens, executive director of  the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma. “Donations of poultry and other high-protein foods are especially valuable as they allow us to provide our agencies with more healthy, nutritious options."

Half a million Oklahomans struggle with hunger each day, including one in five children.  The Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma is the largest private hunger-relief organization in the state of Oklahoma.  The Regional Food Bank provides enough food each week to feed more than 77,000 hungry Oklahomans, nearly half of which are children. 

“It’s more urgent than ever to bring support and hunger relief to food-insecure families throughout the U.S.,” said Donnie Smith, president and CEO for Tyson Foods. “At Tyson, our Team Members are proud to be part of the ongoing relief efforts.”

Since 2000, Tyson Foods has been a leader in the fight against hunger. The company is actively engaged in food-donation events and fund-raising activities year-round to benefit those in need. The protein given by Tyson today brings the company’s total in-kind donations since 2000 to more than 75 million pounds. This milestone equates to more than 296 million meals donated to food banks and agencies serving local communities around the country. Last year alone, Tyson donated nearly eight million pounds of protein to Feeding America. For more information on how to get involved in the fight against hunger, go to http://hungerrelief.tyson.com/.

About the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma
The Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma is a private, 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization that acts as a link through which the food industry and community may donate food and other goods. The products are then distributed to nearly 700 schools and charitable Food Service programs in 53 central and western Oklahoma counties. In the last fiscal year, the Food Bank distributed 28.5 million pounds of food and product to help the charitable community effectively feed people in need. Since its inception in 1980, the Food Bank has distributed more than 351 million pounds of food to feed Oklahoma’s hungry.

 

About the Oklahoma Speaker's Ball
The Oklahoma Speaker’s Ball has been a long-standing tradition of the House of Representatives. In 2005, Oklahoma Speaker’s Ball, Inc., a 501(c )(4), was formed  as a stand-alone, perpetual entity, which is privately managed outside the walls of the State Capitol. Its mission is to plan and execute an annual gala, and to benefit a worthy Oklahoma charity of the Speaker’s choosing. The 2010 Oklahoma Speaker’s Ball, held in March, raised more than $20,000 for its two beneficiaries, Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma and Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma, in addition to the Tyson Foods donation.

Tyson Foods, Inc. (NYSE:TSN - News), founded in 1935 with headquarters in Springdale, Arkansas, is one of the world's largest processors and marketers of chicken, beef and pork, the second-largest food production company in the Fortune 500 and a member of the S&P 500.  The company produces a wide variety of protein-based and prepared food products and is the recognized market leader in the retail and foodservice markets it serves. Tyson provides products and services to customers throughout the United States and more than 90 countries. The company has approximately 117,000 Team Members employed at more than 400 facilities and offices in the United States and around the world. Through its Core Values, Code of Conduct and Team Member Bill of Rights, Tyson strives to operate with integrity and trust and is committed to creating value for its shareholders, customers and Team Members. The company also strives to be faith-friendly, provide a safe work environment and serve as stewards of the animals, land and environment entrusted to it.