Tyson Foods and Feeding America® have cooperated in a two-year project to encourage local food banks to source and more effectively distribute protein.
In 2017, the Tyson Foods Protein Innovation Fund was formed and distributed $1 million to 10 food banks under the Feeding America® umbrella.
Funds were disbursed to hire personnel to source protein, repackage bulk donations into smaller portions for distribution and to develop products to alleviate food insecurity. It is estimated that over the two-year period, 1.1 million pounds of protein contributing to 4.5 million servings was obtained and distributed. Recipients of grants during the pilot period included $175,000 to the Arkansas Food Bank in Little Rock, AR.; the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma; Feeding Tampa Bay,FL.; Northern Illinois Food Bank; Central Pennsylvania Food Bank and St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance, AZ.