Harford Community Action Agency and Maryland Food Bank receive 15 tons of protein
BALTIMORE, Md., June 10, 2009 — Each day more than 235,000 Marylanders turn to food assistance to avoid going hungry. Today, McDonald’s and Tyson Foods, Inc. have united with the McDonald’s LPGA Championship Presented by Coca-Cola and the LPGA Tour, to kick-off the tournament’s “Fill-A-Truck” drive to feed the hungry. The “Fill-A-Truck” drive is an initiative to provide food to families at risk for hunger in Maryland. The community is invited to join the cause by bringing non-perishable food items to the McDonald’s LPGA Championship at Bulle Rock golf course in Havre de Grace on Friday, June 12. Participants who bring four non-perishable items will receive a free admission to the tournament. The donated food items will be distributed through the Harford Community Action Agency and the Maryland Food Bank.
Representatives from McDonald’s, Tyson Foods, Harford County Action Agency and the Maryland Food Bank, along with LPGA players Candie Kung, Stacy Lewis, and Jill McGill, were on-hand today at the Food Bank of Maryland as Tyson Foods, Inc., the world’s largest processor and marketer of chicken, beef, and pork, donated more than 30,000 pounds of protein to kick off the “Fill-A-Truck” drive.
“Tyson has been one of our favorite team partners,” said Frank Quinn, co-founder of the McDonald’s LPGA Championship. “Their support has enabled us over the years to make record-breaking contributions to organizations that help families.”
“Our company and our team members remain steadfast in our commitment to fight hunger in the communities we serve, and we’re honored to add this much-needed centerpiece to the ‘Fill-A-Truck’ drive,” said Devin Cole, Tyson Foods’ senior vice president of the McDonald’s Business Unit. “At Tyson, we recognize the need for protein-rich foods and the increasing demands upon the food banks during these difficult times, especially as children leave school for the summer. We’re thrilled to play a part in this great program.”
“Right now, we are working to keep up with demand and constantly looking to the food industry for more food,” comments CEO of the Maryland Food Bank, Deborah Flateman. “This gift of 1,600 cases of high-quality protein from Tyson and food from the ‘Fill-a-Truck’ promotion with the McDonald’s LPGA Championship will provide nutritious meals to Maryland’s hungry this summer.”
Since 2000, Tyson Foods has been a leader in the fight against hunger. The company is actively engaged in food donation events and fundraising activities year-round to benefit those in need. The protein given by Tyson today will provide more than 120,000 meals and brings the company’s total in-kind donations since 2000 to more than 54 million pounds. Last year alone, Tyson donated nearly 9 million pounds of protein to Feeding America food banks across the country.
In attendance were:
Frank Quinn, Co-Founder, McDonald’s LPGA Championship
Chris Gabriel, General Chairman McDonald’s LPGA Championship, RMHC Board Member
Devin Cole, Tyson Foods Sr Vice President, McDonald’s Business Unit
Greg Lancelot, Tyson Foods Group VP Sales and Marketing, McDonald’s Business Unit
Judy Mason, Executive Director, Harford Community Action Agency
Cliff Giles, Food Bank Manager, Harford Community Action Agency
Deborah Flateman, CEO, Maryland Food Bank
Bridgette Layton, Tourism Manager, Havre de Grace Development Office
Candie Kung, LPGA Tour Player
Stacy Lewis, LPGA Tour Player
Jill McGill, LPGA Tour Player
