Tyson Foods, Inc. (NYSE: TSN) and its Team Members will donate up to $1 million in food and financial aid to relief efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, company officials reported today.
Tyson is providing truckloads of pre-cooked and shelf-stable meats and will match Team Member financial donations dollar for dollar. The contributions will go to assist the relief efforts of the Salvation Army and American Red Cross. The Salvation Army is reportedly preparing to serve up to 500,000 hot meals per day to affected residents and first responders, while the Red Cross has mobilized thousands of volunteers to provide assistance.
Were saddened by the devastation left by this powerful storm and have joined others across the country in the effort to help those people whose lives have been disrupted, said John Tyson, chairman and CEO of Tyson Foods. This disaster especially hits home to us, since those affected include thousands of Tyson Team Members who live in Mississippi.
Tyson has already donated food for relief efforts in Forest and Vicksburg, Mississippi, where the company operates poultry plants and has also sent a truckload of product to Jackson. The company is also sending three truckloads of bottled water to central Mississippi. In addition, Tyson is providing food and a truck to transport a mobile kitchen for a disaster relief group that will be preparing meals for displaced people who have taken refuge in Prairieville, Louisiana.
Tyson will begin notifying its 114,000 Team Members today how their financial contributions will be collected and matched. Company officials hope to complete the process and send the donation to the designated relief organizations as soon as possible.