Food Bank of Iowa announced today that the organization received a $30,000 grant from Tyson Foods. The funds will be used to provide food to Iowa children who don’t have enough to eat through the Food Bank of Iowa’s school BackPack ProgramTM.

“Tyson Foods continues to be a great partner in fighting hunger throughout Iowa,” said Michelle Book, president and CEO of Food Bank of Iowa. “This generous grant will help us continue to provide nutritious food to children in need across our service area.”

In Iowa, one in seven children struggle with food insecurity. This means they have insufficient or unreliable access to enough nutritious food to live a healthy, active life. When children don’t have access to enough nutrients, it can have a serious impact on their health and education. Studies have shown when students are hungry, they don’t perform as well academically. According to a report from Feeding America, it can result in lower test scores, lower reading levels and increased behavior problems—among other issues.

“Since the BackPack Program started at my school, I’ve noticed the kids are more content and getting to school on time,” said Tamica Comito, a teacher at Howe Elementary School in Des Moines. “Their overall attendance is better. They used to miss Fridays, but now they are coming. The children are pleasant and ready to learn.”

The BackPack Program from Food Bank of Iowa provides students around the state with food to take home over the weekend, when they might not otherwise have access to enough food. The packages are discreet, so students struggling with food insecurity are never singled out. Come Monday morning, the students are better prepared to learn and grow.

“We’re proud to support Food Bank of Iowa and appreciate its dedication to providing hunger relief for the people of its community,” said Alberto Olguin, human resources manager for Tyson Foods in Perry, Iowa. “The BackPack Program provides crucial nutrition to kids who may not know where their next meal will come from, and this gift will help impact even more lives.”

Since 2015, Tyson Foods has donated more than fifty million pounds of protein to food banks, community pantries and disaster relief efforts.

Any organization or individual interested in also sponsoring a BackPack Program can contact Food Bank of Iowa and their regional partnership coordinators to find opportunities in their area.

About Food Bank of Iowa Food Bank of Iowa is a private, nonprofit donor-funded organization dedicated to making hunger-free Iowa a reality. Through key partnerships with corporations, the USDA and Feeding America—as well as community donations—Food Bank of Iowa distributes 1.5 million pounds of food each month to 175,000 Iowans via 625 partner agencies across 55 Iowa counties.

To learn more, visit foodbankiowa.org or find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/foodbankiowa.

About Tyson Foods Tyson Foods Inc. (NYSE: TSN) is one of the world’s largest food companies and a recognized leader in protein. Founded in 1935 by John W. Tyson and grown under three generations of family leadership, the company has a broad portfolio of products and brands like Tyson®, Jimmy Dean®, Hillshire Farm®, Ball Park®, Wright®, Aidells®, ibp® and State Fair®. Tyson Foods innovates continually to make protein more sustainable, tailor food for everywhere it’s available and raise the world’s expectations for how much good food can do. Headquartered in Springdale, Arkansas, the company had 121,000 team members at September 29, 2018. Through its Core Values, Tyson Foods strives to operate with integrity, create value for its shareholders, customers, communities and team members and serve as a steward of the animals, land and environment entrusted to it. Visit www.tysonfoods.com.

Tyson Media Contact:

Derek Burleson, 479-290-6466, derek.burleson@tyson.com