Tyson Foods has awarded an almost $92,000 grant to the Kansas Food Bank to fund mobile pantry distributions in Emporia and Garden City, Kansas. 

“We are very thankful to Tyson Foods for funding these mobile distributions,” said Brian Walker, president and CEO of Kansas Food Bank.  “The COVID-19 pandemic has caused an increased demand for food assistance across our state.  Tyson is helping to put missing meals on the tables of our neighbors in need with this grant.”

The mobile food pantry will be deployed monthly starting in May to each respective community.  The grant period lasts for 12 months.  Distributions will be held the second week of the month. 

Locations and times are as follows:

Emporia – Abundant Harvest Kitchen, 1028 Whittier

Garden City – The Community Church, 614 N 13^th

The Kansas Food Bank provides food for over 700 hunger relief partners across 85 counties in Kansas. In 2020, 18.6 million pounds of food were distributed across the state, equivalent to 15.5 million meals.

“We’re proud to support Kansas Food Bank and its mission to end hunger,” said Dennis Jones, complex manager, at Tyson Foods, Finney County facility. “Enabling our partners to address food insecurity by supporting the mobile pantry program is a critical part of our hunger relief strategy.”

Tyson Foods has six facilities in Kansas and employs almost 6,000 in the state. The company also purchases cattle, pigs, grain, fuel and other utilities in Kansas and estimates its annual statewide economic impact at more than $2.4 billion.

Now through March 31st, participating Taco Bell restaurants are asking customers to “round up” their purchase to the nearest dollar to benefit the Food 4 Kids weekend backpack program.

Taco Bell restaurants within the Kansas Food Bank service area that are participating include Andover, Arkansas City, Augusta, Coffeyville, Derby, Dodge City, El Dorado, Fort Scott, Goddard, Great Bend, Hays, Independence, Iola, Junction City, Larned, Liberal, Maize, McPherson, Mulvane, Newton, Park City, Pittsburg, Pratt, Salina, Wellington, Wichita and Winfield.

Currently over 5,600 kids participate in the Food 4 Kids program. Every Friday they receive a pack full of kid friendly foods that they take home to eat over the weekend. Donations raised will help purchase food for the program.

Stop by your local Taco Bell now through March 31st and “round up” your purchase to the nearest dollar to help provide meals for chronically hungry children now!

We are working with Partners for Wichita to once again provide meals for children during spring break. Meal packs will be available the following Mondays:

March 15th from Noon – 1:00 pm two locations for Derby and Haysville:

Oaklawn Activity Center – 4904 S Clifton

Haysville United Methodist Church – 601 E Grand

March 22nd from Noon to 1:00 pm ten locations for Wichita:

Salvation Army Downtown – 350 N Market

Cross Point Church – 1515 E Harry

Salvation Army Orchard Corps – 1910 S Everett

Evergreen Neighborhood Resource Center – 2700 N Woodland

Humankind Ministries Villa Court – 930 N Market

Colvin Neighborhood Resource Center – 2820 S Roosevelt

Hilltop Urban Church – 910 S Bluffview Dr

Salvation Army Citadel Corps – 1739 S Elpyco

Atwater Neighborhood Resource Center – 2755 E 19th St N

Tabernacle COGIC – 1502 E 17th St N