The coronavirus is closing schools nationwide, and millions of vulnerable children are losing the school meals they depend upon. For some, it’s the only food they would receive in a given day. Oppy – alongside marketing partner and JAZZ™ brand owner, T&G Global – has teamed up with No Kid Hungry, an organization dedicated to feeding kids during school closures and all year long; to aid in delivery of these meals.
“The devastation this virus is causing is unreal, and we’re all looking for ways to help. As we’re able to provide something essential — nutritious food — it’s our responsibility,” said Roger Aguirre, category director, apples and pears, at Oppy. “When the Oppy team came across No Kid Hungry, who is delivering 1.7+ million meals daily to needy kids, it was a cause that struck especially close to our hearts.”
Helping alleviate hunger – particularly among children and with nutrition in mind – is critical to T&G and Oppy; and aligning with organizations who share their values, particularly where they operate and in critically impacted geographies, is essential. A start-up contribution in the name of JAZZ™ apples, to a unique No Kid Hungry fundraising page, has jump-started a donation campaign during this critical moment.
“We’re in complete admiration of No Kid Hungry’s abilities to help address the hunger fight head on, working alongside public schools and food banks – so rapidly – during such a critical time,” said Cecilia Flores Paez, Head of Marketing North America, for T&G Global. “We also donated more than 12,000 JAZZ™ apples to the Selah School District in Washington state, which delivers more than 3,200 daily meals to local students and are exploring similar regional opportunities.”
D'Arrigo California donates produce and PPE
D’Arrigo California is also donating produce to help those who are being challenged by food scarcity due to COVID-19. So far, the company has donated 250,265 lbs. of Andy Boy produce to children, families and elderly. The organizations that received the donations are the Food Bank of El Paso (TX), Food Bank of Yuma (AZ), North Texas Food Bank (Dallas, TX), Roadrunner Food Bank (El Paso, TX), El Pasoans Food Bank (El Paso, TX), Maricopa County Schools (Phoenix, AZ), YMCA locations in Houston (TX) and Brighter Bites schools and communities in Houston (TX).
In addition, D’Arrigo California donated personal protective equipment (PPE) to the City of Salinas Police Department, City of Monterey Police Department and City of Monterey Fire Department. Over four hundred N95 masks were donated to first responders in the Monterey Peninsula to minimize their exposure to COVID -19. “Our first responders are on the front lines keeping our communities safe and we are trying our best to keep them safe as well,” stated John D’Arrigo, CEO of D’Arrigo California.
20 million lbs of potatoes donated in Canada
McCain Foods announced a donation of up to 20-million pounds of potato products to support Food Banks Canada, Second Harvest and other local food security organizations across the country. This commitment represents 60-million servings of potatoes that will be provided to Canadian communities struggling with food insecurity.
"Because of COVID-19, many local food drives typically held this time of year are cancelled. McCain Food’s significant donation will help replenish the inventory at a time when food donations have drastically decreased,” says Chris Hatch, CEO, Food Banks Canada. "We are grateful for this contribution as we face the increase in demand this pandemic is causing.”
McCain Food’s announcement comes in addition to $1.3 million in donations from the McCain Foundation; which were made last week to provide urgent support to food banks, shelters, community kitchens and school programs in New Brunswick, Manitoba and Alberta.
For more information:
Cecilia Flores Paez
T&G Global
Tel: +64 21 809 841
Email: [email protected]
www.jazzapple.com
www.nokidhungry.org/coronavirus
Claudia Pizarro-Villalobos
D’Arrigo California
Tel: +1 (831) 455-4315
Email: [email protected]
www.andyboy.com
Raquel Amaral
McCain Foods
Email: [email protected]
www.mccain.com