The Kraft Heinz Company and the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank celebrated the largest gift of packaged food the Food Bank has ever received on Thursday, July 12, at the Food Bank offices in Bethel Heights.

Kraft Heinz is donating four trucks loads of Kraft Macaroni and Cheese as well as one truckload of Stove Top Stuffing and Heinz Gravy. One truckload of Kraft Macaroni and Cheese will be delivered each quarter.

A truckload of 2,000 cases of Kraft Macaroni and Cheese was unloaded at the event . Based on a four-ounce serving, a truckload will provide 125,000 servings of Kraft Macaroni and Cheese.

Macaroni and Cheese is one of popular food items at the Food Bank, which purchased $100,000 worth of the product last year, said Mike Williams, director of development at the Food Bank. This donation represents a year’s worth of Macaroni and Cheese.

Williams thanked the more than 30 employees who attended the ceremony for the donation.

“One of the core values at Kraft Heinz is growing a better world, said Shawn Boss, head of sales, cheese and dairy of the Northwest Arkansas office. The donation will help in the great work of the Food Bank.

“We want to be part of helping people who are food insecure,” he said.

Kent Eikenberry, president and CEO Northwest Arkansas Food Bank, said, “We are so appreciative of the generous commitment made by the team at Kraft Heinz. Their support has grown over the past few years and their donation of Kraft Macaroni and Cheese, Stove Top Stuffing Mix, and Heinz Gravy constitute the largest dry goods donation in the history of the Food Bank.

“These are staple products that we need to have in stock no matter the season and will fly out of our warehouse,” he said.

There are approximately 65,000 persons with food insecurities living in Benton, Carroll, Madison and Washington counties that are served the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank and its more than 160 partner agencies.