SALISBURY, Md. — Perdue Farms and the Harry K Foundation recently joined the Food Bank of Delaware in its annual “Thanksgiving For All” tradition to deliver 1,000 meal boxes and Perdue® chicken roasters to children and families in partnership with local schools ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday.
Perdue’s ongoing support is part of the company’s “Delivering Hope To Our Neighbors®” outreach focused on improving quality of life and building strong communities where its associates live and work, and beyond, the company said in its announcement, adding that with a surge in need through food banks, Perdue is helping bridge the gap through its commitment to provide high-quality, nutritious protein that vulnerable populations need for healthy development and well-being.
“Partnerships like this truly embody the spirit of the season,” Cathy Kanefsky, Food Bank of Delaware president and CEO, said. “Thanks to Perdue Farms and the Harry K Foundation, we’re able to make sure that children and families who are struggling don’t have to worry about where their holiday meal will come from. Together, we’re delivering not just food, but hope and comfort to our neighbors across Delaware.”
In Delaware, more than 120,000 people are facing hunger, including one in six children, according to Feeding America’s Map the Meal Gap data. The Harry K Foundation’s support of “Holidays for All” is part of a larger year-round commitment to ending childhood hunger.
“The Harry K Foundation continues its mission of ending childhood hunger in partnership with the Food Bank of Delaware in providing much needed food to 52 school pantries and to currently feeding 725 children for a year through the Backpack Program,” Harry Keswani, Harry K Foundation founder, said. “We continue to support the “Holidays for All” tradition in our strong partnership with Perdue Farms and the Food Bank of Delaware. No child in Delaware should ever fear that the time out of school means a time that they will not eat. Working together, our partnership focuses tirelessly on this commitment of feeding hungry children and their families.”
Perdue, the Food Bank of Delaware, and the Harry K Foundation volunteers helped pack and load the food boxes and chicken into vehicles from various schools that picked up the boxes at the Food Bank of Delaware’s Milford branch. Boxes were filled with a variety of shelf stable items, and a Perdue chicken roaster completed the holiday meal.
“We know that for many Delawareans putting a meal on the table is a daily struggle, especially during these difficult economic times,” Bill See, Perdue Farms senior manager of community relations, said. “At Perdue, we are thrilled to join the Food Bank of Delaware and the Harry K Foundation to deliver a little hope to our neighbors ahead of Thanksgiving.”
