Reston, Virginia, U.S.A.-based Starkist Co. has partnered with global nonprofit Feed the Children and local aid organizations to host a Summer Food and Resource Rally for food insecure families in Rogers, Arkansas.
The event brought together local aid organizations, including food banks and churches, as well as volunteers, local officials, community advocates, and a number of StarKist employees to distribute 400 family kits which included StarKist protein products, 25 pounds of shelf-stable food, 15 pounds of hygiene essentials, and other supplies.
Feed 479 Director Dennis Smiley explained that the summer is a time of critical need for the families that his organization’s food pantry serves.
“We see an increase in need during the summer months as families have more demand for meals due to their children being home from school,” he said.
"StarKist is a socially responsible company that empowers people to live a healthy lifestyle by providing convenient, nutritious protein products. We're proud to work with Feed the Children and Feed 479 to offer meaningful support to families in Northwest Arkansas," StarKist President and CEO Edward Min added. "Events like this rally are a powerful reminder of what we can accomplish when we come together for our communities. We are grateful for the opportunity to get our StarKist products into the hands of those who need them most."
Feed the Children President and CEO Emily Callahan said that similar events are becoming increasingly important to her organization’s work.
"We've seen the significant impact Resource Rallies have in supporting communities experiencing food insecurity, and we're grateful to be working with StarKist and Feed 479 to make a difference in the lives of children and families," she said. "Working together, we're able to provide food and quality of life essentials that children and families need to survive, grow, and thrive. Through the power of partnership, we can make a greater impact as we seek to create a world where no child goes to bed hungry."
StarKist is sponsoring or has sponsored nearly 20 similar events nationwide, including one in early June in Reston, where the firm’s corporate headquarters are located. The company said in a release that it will continue to work with Feed the Children throughout 2025.
Over the past 16 years, StarKist has donated over 1.2 million pounds of tuna and chicken products to food insecure communities, the company said in a release. The contributions, StarKist said, amount to USD 4.9 million (EUR 4.2 million) in product donations. The company has also donated USD 985,000 (EUR 834,300) in financial support to the cause of food insecurity in that time period.
