JACKSON, Miss. (WTVA) -- Gov. Phil Bryant has directed a donation of more than 40,000 pounds of poultry meat and 60 cases of eggs to The Salvation Army of Jackson in advance of the holiday season.
The food donation was given by the members of the Mississippi Poultry Association and will provide more than 270,000 servings of protein to those in need.
Gov. Phil Bryant chose The Salvation Army to receive a donation of 40,000 pounds of poultry meat and 60 cases of eggs from the Mississippi Poultry Association.
The donation is an annual gift from the Association to help those in need during the holiday season, providing 270,000 servings of protein.
“Deborah and I have worked closely with The Salvation Army for many years and have great appreciation for their positive impact on our communities. I know Captain Chapman will work to ensure that this donation is distributed to those in greatest need,” Gov. Bryant said. “I applaud the generosity of the Mississippi Poultry Association members, and I’m thankful for their gift of wholesome food that will benefit so many Mississippians.”
The Salvation Army will directly distribute portions of the donation to the people they serve and will work with other charitable organizations to spread the donation throughout communities.
“We are so blessed by the generosity of the Mississippi Poultry Association and by Gov. Phil Bryant, who always remembers The Salvation Army!” said Captain Ken Chapman, regional coordinator of The Salvation Army of Jackson. “This is going to be an incredible Thanksgiving for the more than 1,000 people we serve because now not only will they get their traditional Thanksgiving meal, they will all receive chicken from this donation. What a great way to get into the holiday spirit! It is our plan to share this donation with the community through other agencies.”
The Mississippi Poultry Association made its first donation to the Mississippi governor in 2011.
This year’s donation is nearly four times the size of the last.
“2012 is the Mississippi Poultry Association’s 75th anniversary. The companies have grown to have a worldwide reach since 1937, but they always remember to help those less fortunate at home,” said MPA Chairman Ray Ables, who is with Tyson Foods in Forest. “We want this contribution to be the first of a wave of holiday giving in the most generous state in the nation.”
The companies donating poultry products are broiler companies Marshall Durbin with a Hattiesburg plant; Peco Foods with facilities in Canton, Brookville, Philadelphia, Sebastopol and Bay Springs; Sanderson Farms with plants in Hazlehurst, Laurel, McComb, Collins and Flowood; Tyson Foods with facilities in Carthage, Forest, Vicksburg; and Wayne Farms with a plant in Laurel.
Cal-Maine, which has facilities in Jackson and Edwards, donated 60 cases of eggs.
The Mississippi Food Network will provide storage capacity for the chicken as The Salvation Army identifies partner agencies to share in the donation.
