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Perdue donates challenge grant for Food Bank of Delaware truck

February 11, 2018

The Food Bank of Delaware and The Franklin P. and Arthur W. Perdue Foundation – the charitable giving arm of Perdue Farms – recently announced a new partnership to Drive Out Hunger in the community.

During a presentation held Jan. 25 at the food bank's Milford branch, the foundation announced a Drive Out Hunger challenge grant in the amount of $57,500, more than half of the cost to purchase a new, refrigerated, 26-foot box truck to safely transport and redistribute perishable donations to food-insecure communities throughout Delaware.

The Food Bank of Delaware, The Franklin P. and Arthur W. Perdue Foundation, and Perdue Farms have now challenged the community to raise the additional $42,500 needed to purchase the $100,000 truck

"At Perdue, we believe that in a country as rich as ours, no one should go hungry," said Kim Nechay, executive director of the Perdue Foundation. "That's why we're proud to be a longtime partner in the fight against hunger with the Food Bank of Delaware. We're proud to support their Drive Out Hunger initiative through a grant from the foundation and help improve food security for our neighbors in the First State."

Perdue and the Food Bank of Delaware have been partners in the fight against hunger for nearly three decades. Together, they have helped provide more than 13.6 million meals to seniors, families and children struggling with hunger.

The Food Bank of Delaware currently has 108 total wheels (primarily cargo vans and 26-foot box trucks) traveling the roads of Delaware every day delivering vital nutritional resources and educational services directly to underserved communities.

"Our fleet travels more than 450,000 miles each year allowing for the safe transport and delivery of both perishable and nonperishable food to Food Bank of Delaware partners," said FBD President and CEO Patricia Beebe. "We own all of our vehicles, requiring significant maintenance and repair budget lines which grow each year as our fleet ages. The maintenance and repair cost for all 25 vehicles exceeded $35,000 last fiscal year. Taking high-mileage vehicles off the road has become a priority as maintenance and repair costs continue to increase each year, as the miles and wear and tear continue to mount. We are thankful for Perdue's support as we work with our community to get this new vehicle on the road."

Companies that donate more than $5,000 toward the challenge will have their logo prominently displayed on the new truck.

To learn more about supporting the Drive Out Hunger challenge, contact Larry Haas, Food Bank of Delaware development director, at 302-294-0185 or lhaas@fbd.org. To make an online donation toward the challenge, go to www.fbd.org/drive-out-hunger-challenge/.

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