Tyson Foods Inc. and the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) have partnered to donate a truckload of protein to Atlanta Community Food Bank to help eliminate hunger in the greater Atlanta area.

Atlanta Community Food Bank, which serves 29 counties, will distribute the donated food through its service network of 600 agency partners, including nonprofit and faith-based organizations providing daily meals and food pantry services across metro Atlanta and north Georgia. 

“We are thankful for the generosity of Tyson Foods and the NACS for their donation of more than 33,000 pounds of food,” said Kyle Waide, CEO of the Atlanta Community Food Bank. “One in seven people in metro Atlanta and north Georgia need help putting food on the table. This partnership allows us to provide high quality protein for thousands of them.”

NACS is holding its annual NACS Show at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta this week. More than 20,000 attendees from 60-plus countries are expected to attend the event, which is one of the largest tradeshows in the country.

“Convenience stores are closely tied to the communities they serve, especially around charitable giving,” said Jeff Lenard, vice president of NACS’ strategic industry initiatives. “Our industry donates hundreds of millions of dollars annually to local charities and we are delighted to work with these great partners to give back to Atlanta.”

Last month, NACS worked with Dr. Pepper Snapple Group, KaBOOM! and community volunteers to build a playground in nearby East Point, Georgia. Lenard said that it is also working with the Atlanta Community Food Bank to donate product from the expo floor at the conclusion of the NACS Show on Oct. 21.

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.

Last year, Tyson Foods announced its renewed 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.

“Partnering with organizations like Atlanta Community Food Bank and NACS is important to us in raising awareness about food insecurity in communities all around the U.S.,” said Kevin Miller, senior marketing manager for Tyson Convenience. “In this community alone, Atlanta Community serves 80,600 people each week with programs supported through the food bank. We’re honored to support those extraordinary efforts.”

To learn more about Atlanta Community Food Bank and its hunger-relief efforts, visit http://acfb.org/

Source: NACS