A major milestone was reached Friday, Aug. 4, in the partnership between the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank and Tyson Foods.

At the Food Bank offices in Bethel Heights, Tyson Foods and Northwest Arkansas Food Bank celebrated the donation of Tyson Foods’ seven millionth pound of protein to the Food Bank. The two organizations have been partnering for the past 29 years to fight hunger in Northwest Arkansas.

In addition, Tyson Foods announced a $152,154 grant to the Food Bank that will be used to improve operational efficiency. The grant will cover the cost of a new order picker, two new forklifts, four standard pallet jacks, six electric pallet jacks, 28 freezer racks and 200 freezer blankets.

“I can’t explain how deeply appreciative we are of Tyson Foods not just for the seven million pounds of protein, but also to all those who work in the processing plants who sacrifice to help feed their neighbors,” said Kent Eikenberry, president and CEO of the Food Bank.

In the past nine months, Tyson Foods has donated 1.3 million pounds of product worth nearly $2 million to the Food Bank.

“I’ve said this before, but I cannot say it enough. Every time I see a Tyson Foods truck pull into our parking lot with a load of protein I cannot control my smile,” said Eikenberry. “On behalf of the 70,000-plus food insecure persons in Northwest Arkansas who we serve, I want to extend my deepest appreciation to the team members of Tyson Foods who have made this magnificent donation possible through their hard work.”

Eikenberry said the ceremony was a way of celebrating a tremendous partnership not only that has worked well in the past but also into the future.

Food Bank board chairman and a Tyson Foods employee Chris Baumhover said, the partnership between the two organizations has been a great one.

Baumhover said Tyson is an awesome place to work and is a great company that has a national effort to fight hunger across the nation.

Sherri Johnson, a Food Bank board member and a Tyson Foods employee, said Tyson Foods has the same level of devotion as the Food Bank has to fight hunger.

“Fighting hunger is a calling and a passion for the Food Bank,” she said. “Every year the Food Bank and its employees rise to the occasion to fight hunger in Northwest Arkansas.”

Tyson Foods is honored to partner with the Food Bank and serving the 72,000 food insecure people who are less fortunate, Johnson said.

Mike Williams, director of development at the Food Bank, said the seven million pounds is equivalent to more than 200 tractor trailer loads of protein or more than 28 million servings.

“Northwest Arkansas is a better place to live because of the incredible commitment and support of Tyson Foods,” Williams added.

Once the new equipment is operational, it is expected to save the Food Bank more than $50,000 in the first year.

"This gift is a game changer in our fight against hunger,” said Williams. “This equipment will help us respond more efficiently and safely to the needs of our partner agencies and the food insecure families we collectively serve."

Among all protein processors, Tyson Foods is the largest donor of meat and poultry to Feeding America and its network of food banks, including the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank. Tyson Foods has been an active participant in the fight against hunger since 2000, donating more than 100 million pounds of protein. In 2015, Tyson Foods pledged $50 million in cash or in-kind donations by 2020 to fight hunger, with a special focus on innovative initiatives at the local level. In 2016, the company donated $12.5 million for hunger relief.