Tyson Foods celebrates 40 years donating 40,000 lbs. of protein

The Quad Cities-based beef plant Tyson Foods is celebrating its 40th anniversary today, Feb. 17, by delivering and donating 40,000 pounds of protein to the River Bend Food Bank.  Leaders of the Joslin, Illinois-based plant say the company is donating the meals to help address hunger relief for local individuals and families, which is a […]

The Quad Cities-based beef plant Tyson Foods is celebrating its 40th anniversary today, Feb. 17, by delivering and donating 40,000 pounds of protein to the River Bend Food Bank.  Leaders of the Joslin, Illinois-based plant say the company is donating the meals to help address hunger relief for local individuals and families, which is a giving back priority for Tyson Foods. Tyson estimates one pound of protein is equal to four servings, meaning the donation is equivalent to about 160,000 meals. River Bend Food Bank, which is a member of the Feeding America network, received the delivery this morning at its Davenport warehouse. The donations included ground beef, Italian sausage, deli ham and turkey, pepperoni, chicken drumsticks, and a variety of other chicken products. “We strive to improve the quality of life for our team members, their families, and the communities where we operate and hunger relief is an important way in which we give back,” Jorge Guzman, Tyson Foods’ Joslin beef plant complex manager, said in a news release from Tyson Foods. “We’re grateful to have been a part of the Joslin community for 40 years and are extremely proud of current and former team members who have been an integral part of our Joslin operations and our commitment as a company to help feed the world,” he added. Tyson and the food bank have partnered numerous times throughout the years to address hunger relief in the Joslin and Quad Cities area. The protein donation will be available to all of the Food Bank’s pantry partners to distribute to the children and adults they serve. “The high cost of food continues to force struggling families to make impossible choices between buying nutritious groceries and paying for other necessities,” said Nancy Renkes, River Bend’s president and CEO. “We are so grateful for this generous donation from Tyson that will help more people facing hunger access healthy protein options during a time of great need.”   Tyson’s Joslin beef plant began operations on Jan. 24, 1983, then as IBP. In 2001, the IBP company was acquired by Tyson Foods. Today, the Joslin plant employs 2,700 team members.