Tyson Foods Inc.and Delaware North partnered to donate a truckload of chicken to the Food Bank of Western New York to help alleviate hunger in their community.

The Food Bank, which serves Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie and Niagara counties, will distribute the donated food to partnering on-site feeding agencies such as soup kitchens.

"We are so grateful to Tyson Foods and Delaware North for this generous donation of chicken, which will provide approximately 160,000 servings to our hungry Western New York neighbors," said Marylou Borowiak, president and CEO of the Food Bank of Western New York. "This donation is a fantastic source of protein for the 41,348 families we serve each month. Tyson Foods and Delaware North are wonderful partners to the Food Bank as we continue to fight hunger one day at a time."

Meat and poultry are nutrient dense foods, according to health experts, and can be especially helpful to people who need more protein, including growing children, pregnant women, the elderly, and anyone undergoing severe stress, disease or disability. According to food banks nationwide, meat is the most requested and least available food.

"Delaware North and the Jacobs family are extremely proud to partner with Tyson Foods," said Charles E. Moran, president of Delaware North. "This donation is one of many efforts that Delaware North is making to support the communities where we operate, during the company's 100^th anniversary celebration this year. We are especially pleased to do this in Buffalo, where the company was founded and where we invested for the future with a new global headquarters building."

Tyson Foods' "KNOW Hunger" campaign is focused on helping more people understand and join the effort to eliminate hunger in America. The company partners with Feeding America, Share Our Strength and Lift Up America to raise awareness and help feed the hungry across the nation. Since 2000, Tyson Foods has donated more than 100 million pounds of protein in the United States.

Earlier this month, Tyson Foods announced its new commitment to hunger relief by pledging $50 million in cash and in-kind donations over the next five years in the fight against hunger, with a special focus on innovative initiatives at the local level.

"Each month, the Food Bank of Western New York feeds nearly 117,000 people in need, many of which are children and seniors," said Chris Paisley, account executive for Tyson Foods. "I hope, with this donation, we are able to raise awareness about hunger and its impact on all communities."

To learn more about the Food Bank of Western New York and its hunger-relief efforts, visit http://www.foodbankwny.org/.

Source: Tyson Foods Inc.