FORT SMITH -- River Valley Regional Food Bank will distribute more than 40,000 pounds of chicken to the public for free on Thursday in Waldron.
The distribution will take place at Waldron High School, 1560 W. Sixth St.
Tyson Foods in Springdale -- the world's second-largest processor and marketer of chicken, beef, and pork -- donated the flash-frozen chicken products to the food bank, the organization announced Tuesday. The distribution will begin at 10 a.m. Thursday and will end when all the chicken has been taken.
The distribution on Thursday will be conducted in a drive-thru manner on a first-come, first-served basis, the release states. Vehicles are requested to enter the high school parking lot from Arkansas 80. Each vehicle will receive one 40-pound box, with no identification or proof of residency required.
The public is asked to respect social-distancing guidelines. Participants must follow directions when a vehicle is called:
• Advance slowly to the front of the building.
• Stay inside the vehicle.
• Keep windows up.
• Open trunks from inside vehicles.
Staff members will load trunks or truck beds. They will not load any items inside the main compartment of vehicles. Participants are asked to have enough room for the donations.
"The donation -- a 40-pound box of chicken product that may be shared with friends and family -- is tied to Tyson's strategic long-term partnership with the [the food bank]," a news release states. "In addition to donations of frozen protein products, the company's grants over the years have allowed us to expand freezer capacity, which allows the food bank to house more food to distribute to its clients."
Thursday's donation it taking place after Tyson Foods donated 73,000 pounds of chicken to the food bank that was distributed April 1 in Fort Smith.
"The River Valley Regional Food Bank appreciates the corporate sponsorship with Tyson Foods and thanks the company providing this gift to our community as it will help us feed hungry families during the covid-19 pandemic," the release states.
State Desk on 04/29/2020