Tyson Food awards $50K to food bank programs

SIKESTON — Southeast Missouri Food Bank announced it has received a $50,000 grant from Tyson Foods to fund Mobile Food Pantries in Stoddard, Scott and Dunklin Counties.

The grant will allow the food bank to provide 24 mobile food pantries in these counties from June 2020 through May 2021.

“We are grateful to Tyson Foods for this funding,” said Joey Keys, chief executive officer of SEMO Food Bank. “One in six families in Southeast Missouri struggles to put healthy food on the table. Tyson’s grant will have a significant impact on hungry families in these counties.”

The investment from Tyson Foods will provide extra protein and fresh produce at each distribution, according to a press release from the food bank. Part of the protein will consist of Tyson chicken.

“Two of the top items the people we serve request are protein and fresh produce,” Keys said. “Tyson is instrumental for fulfilling this request.”

“We’re proud to support the Southeast Missouri Food Bank and its efforts to fight hunger insecurity,” said Debra Vernon, senior director of corporate social responsibility for Tyson Foods. “We have a history of investing in the food bank’s mobile pantries and know that it takes creative solutions to reach our most vulnerable neighbors in need and make nutrition food and produce as accessible as possible.”

Dates and locations for the mobiles will be announced and publicized later this year. Details for all mobile food distributions can be found on the food bank’s website at semofoodbank.org/programs/mobile-food-pantry or on the SEMO Food Bank Facebook page.