The Food Bank of Siouxland Receives Over 65,000 Meals Donation as Part of Perdue Farms’ “Fill the Food Gap” Initiative

Donations to the Food Bank of Siouxland Addresses Rising Food Insecurity Across the State of Iowa

Food Bank and Perdue staff stand in front of a Food Bank banner, surrounded by pallets of donated chicken, showcasing their commitment to alleviating hunger.

With Hunger Action Month underway, the Food Bank of Siouxland received 80,000 pounds of chicken as part of Perdue Farms’ "Fill the Food Gap" initiative. This new program is designed to address the growing crisis of food insecurity both in Iowa and nationwide. The effort begins with an immediate donation of 800,000 pounds of nutritious protein to food banks along the east coast and in the Midwest, including Iowa. 

The challenge is significant: food banks across the country, including the Food Bank of Siouxland, are facing unprecedented strain, with many reporting record demand and reduced resources. Within Siouxland alone, 1 in 9 individuals and 1 in 5 children are considered food insecure throughout the Food Bank of Siouxland’s 11-county service area. In serving rural populations, the non-profit has found “Food Deserts” can be a barrier to everyday families as access to nutritional food and grocery stores can be quite far.

The resulting shortfall has created a substantial “food gap,” leaving millions of families struggling to access essential nutrition on a consistent basis. The protein provided by Perdue Farms will be instrumental in bridging this gap, ensuring vulnerable populations receive the high-quality protein necessary for healthy development and well-being.

“Perdue Farms’ donation and ongoing support of the Food Bank of Siouxland will be incredibly impactful in addressing the food gap across our 11-county service area. This initiative as well as past donations have contributed to bringing hope to our community when needed,” says Jacob Wanderscheid, Executive Director of the Food Bank of Siouxland.

The protein provided to the Food Bank of Siouxland will be distributed through its network of local pantries, soup kitchens, and community programs, directly benefiting residents in Iowa.

Beyond this initial donation, the Fill the Food Gap program also includes:

• Ongoing Protein Donations: Perdue Farms commits to continued protein donations throughout the year, adapting to evolving short-term and long-term needs identified by food bank partners.

• Associate Volunteerism: Encouraging and facilitating Perdue Farms associates nearby to volunteer their time and skills at local food banks and community feeding programs, particularly during Hunger Action Month.

• Advocacy and Awareness: Raising awareness about the severity of food insecurity and advocating for solutions to address systemic issues, amplifying the message of Hunger Action Month.

Perdue Farms has a long-standing commitment to fighting hunger and supporting communities. This Hunger Action Month program builds on Perdue Farms’ decades-long commitment to fighting hunger through our Delivering Hope To Our Neighbors® outreach, focused on improving quality of life and building strong communities. Since 2000, Perdue has delivered the equivalent of 89 million meals in its efforts to help alleviate food insecurity in its communities and beyond.

"The urgency to address food insecurity has only grown this year," said Todd Tillemans, Chief Commercial Officer at Perdue Farms. "With so many families relying on food banks that are stretched thinner than ever, we knew we had to act. Fill the Food Gap is about mobilizing Perdue’s resources and people to provide immediate relief in the communities where we operate and shine a light on a challenge too big to ignore.”