PERDUE FARMS DONATES OVER 28,000 POUNDS OF CHICKEN TO SECOND HARVEST

Eliza McCall, Valdosta Today Contributor

Perdue Farms, a corporation based out of Salisbury, Maryland, donated over 28,000 pounds of chicken to Second Harvest of South Georgia last month. This donation is part of Perdue’s commitment to donate two million pounds per year to Feeding America food banks like Second Harvest. This generous donation will be distributed through the food bank’s network of partner agencies including soup kitchens, shelters, and after school feeding programs. Over the past 15 years, Perdue Farms has donated 46 million pounds of poultry products nationwide through Feeding America.

Hunger is a pervasive problem in South Georgia. 1 in 4 people, including 1 in 3 children, in our area do not have access to a stable source of food. Georgia ranks 4th in childhood hunger in the United States, and Second Harvest’s 30 county service area has the highest rates of any region in the state. Complicating the issue is the fact that generally at-risk individuals and family can afford food that is of little nutritional value.

“All of us at Perdue are proud to stand in partnership in the fight against hunger with Feeding America and its nationwide partner network of which Second Harvest Food Bank of South Georgia is a valued member,” said Tommy Waters, director of Perdue operations in Gainesville, Ga., from where the protein was sourced. “At Perdue, we believe that in a nation as rich as our, no one should have to go hungry. It’s through donations like this that enable us to help our partners feed those in need.”

“This donation is particularly beneficial to us because it is a healthy source of protein that we can distribute to those in need,” said Frank Richards, CEO of Second Harvest of South Georgia. “Fighting hunger in our area is not something Second Harvest can do alone. It takes a cooperative effort to make a difference. Perdue Farms has been a valuable partner in that work for a many years, and we are grateful for their continued support.”

Eliza McCall is the Chief Marketing Officer for Second Harvest of South Georgia, which serves 30 South Georgia counties and is the largest rural food bank in Georgia.

Headquartered in Valdosta, the organization has locations in Albany, Douglas and Thomasville. Through their network of over 450 partner charities and through their programs, Second Harvest distributed more than 19 million pounds of food in the past year to children, seniors and families struggling with hunger. They operate a variety of programs including the Food Bank, Farm to Family, Kids Café, Teachers Harvest, Manna Drop Mobile Food Pantry and more. For more information on how to help alleviate hunger in South Georgia, visit them online at www.feedingsga.org.