Hunger confronted in Northwest and West Central Arkansas with Cargill turkey gift to Food Banks; holiday season donation to nourish thousands

SPRINGDALE, Ark., Nov. 17, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Just ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday, Cargill is doing its part to combat food insecurity and help provide families in Northwest and West Central Arkansas with nutritious turkeys for their dinner tables. Cargill's donation will support families in need with a donation of nearly 2,000 Honeysuckle White® whole turkeys each to the Northwest Arkansas (NWA) Food Bank and the River Valley Regional Food Bank.

"We hope to reach almost 4,000 families in our community with our donation. Whether a family is going through a difficult time, or regularly seeks assistance from our local food banks, they deserve to have access to nutritional, wholesome, delicious protein." said Shane Acosta, Cargill's Springdale complex general manager.  "We are thrilled to be a part of a mission dedicated to placing turkey on the plates of those who would otherwise not be able to afford it during the holiday season."

The NWA Food Bank supports more than 121,000 people in four counties across its region – a region that's identified as the most food insecure region in Arkansas.  The River Valley Regional Food Bank provides support for more than 55,000 Arkansans living in a region where approximately 18 percent of the population are food insecure.  The food banks provide support that includes distribution of products to agencies in their respective areas, such as food pantries, senior centers, shelters, after school programs, day care programs and other non-profit organizations.

According to Feeding America, one of Cargill's nutrition and health partners, statistics show that one in five people in the state of Arkansas struggles with hunger, compared to a national average of one in seven people.  Arkansas is ranked second on the nation's list of most food insecure states, with 20 percent of its residents identifying as food insecure in 2016.

"Nourishing people is woven into Cargill's cultural fiber, and we are proud to demonstrate what that means in our very own community," said Acosta.  "We value the partnerships we have with the local food banks to help support their mission in any way that we can.  The farmers who own the 700 independent farms that raise turkeys for Cargill share our pride in helping nourish people throughout America."

Cargill turkey business is based in Wichita, Kan., and operates primary processing facilities in Arkansas, Missouri, Texas and Virginia.  The Springdale complex was established in 1965 and employs approximately 1,100 people.  In the past year, the facility has donated more than $125,000 to local organizations.

About Cargill

Cargill provides food, agriculture, financial and industrial products and services to the world. Together with farmers, customers, governments and communities, we help people thrive by applying our insights and 150 years of experience. We have 150,000 employees in 70 countries who are committed to feeding the world in a responsible way, reducing environmental impact and improving the communities where we live and work. For more information, visit Cargill.com and our News Center.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150701/227604LOGO

SOURCE Cargill

Related Links

http://www.cargill.com