Foster Farms Thanksgiving Turkey Donations To Feed 84,000 People This Holiday In California, Oregon And Washington

LIVINGSTON, Calif., Nov. 18, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- In preparation for the Thanksgiving holiday, and to address the growing issue of food insecurity, Foster Farms has donated more than 81,000 pounds of turkey to six West Coast food banks. The turkeys will be distributed to local communities and families in California, Oregon and Washington to help feed needy families this Thanksgiving. Each food bank received 750 turkeys - or 13,500 pounds of turkey. Collectively, Foster Farms' Thanksgiving donations will help feed up to 84,000 people this holiday.

Foster Farms Director of Communications Ira Brill is hoping the company's turkey donations will bring greater awareness to the issue of food insecurity on the West Coast. "If Foster Farms' donations encourage other companies and individuals to follow suit with donations of their own, we can reach even more families," said Brill. "You can't put a value on an old-fashioned turkey dinner with family over the holidays. We are honored to play a part in helping families enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving meal this year."

"We live in such an affluent area, and yet, every week, we serve 144,000 people. Many might not realize so many people are hungry in San Francisco and Marin. We do the best we can through the support of the community, but it's especially tough around the holidays when so many people are counting on us for their next meal," said Paul Ash, Executive Director of the SF-Marin Food Bank, one of the six food bank recipients of Foster Farms' turkey donations. "We're very excited to start off this holiday season with such a large donation from Foster Farms, and we're hoping the community takes up the call and helps out in the months to come."

Foster Farms partner food banks this Thanksgiving include:

Food donations can be made directly to these food banks or monetary donations can be made by visiting their websites.

According to a 2014 modern day dinner survey of 2,000 West Coast consumers commissioned by Foster Farms, more than one-third of families are unaware that 49 million Americans – nearly 15 percent of American households – do not have enough to eat, what food assistance organizations term "food insecure."

Foster Farms' Thanksgiving turkey donations to West Coast food banks are just one of its many community outreach programs. Through its "Pass the Plate" program, also in partnership with these same food banks, the company provided 1,875 local families (7,500 people) with more than 24,000 complete chicken dinners throughout the summer. Foster Farms also supports more than 750 Central Valley elementary students through the Food 4 Thought program where participating students spend eight hours of weekly after-school programs in exchange for a 15- to 18-pound bag of groceries provided twice monthly. Since its start in 2009, the Foster Farms-sponsored Food 4 Thought program has provided 3,750 students and their families with over 1.1 million pounds of food.

About Foster Farms
Since 1939, West Coast families have depended on Foster Farms for premium quality chicken and turkey products. Family-owned and operated, the company continues its legacy of excellence and commitment to quality established by its founders, Max and Verda Foster. Foster Farms specializes in fresh, all natural chicken and turkey products free of preservatives, additives or injected sodium enhancers. Based in California's Central Valley, with ranches in the Pacific Northwest, the company's fresh chicken and turkey are produced in or near each region served. Foster Farms also produces delicious pre-marinated, ready-to-cook and fully cooked products that meet the quality and convenience needs of today's home cooks, retailers, warehouse clubs and foodservice customers. The company's commitment to excellence, honesty, quality, service and people is a source of great pride, and a longtime family tradition.

Food safety is Foster Farms' highest priority and the company would like to remind consumers to always follow safe handling, preparation and storage guidelines for the preparation of fresh poultry products. All fresh poultry products should be cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees F as measured by a meat thermometer. Visit www.fosterfarms.com to learn more.

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SOURCE Foster Farms

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