Six Shelby County Schools and more than 250 families will benefit from this partnership.
The Tennessee Valley Authority made a contribution to Mid-South Food Bank to create six Healthy School Pantries in local schools. More than 22% of children in Shelby County live in food-insecure households. The $100,000 contribution will assist in feeding more than 250 families. Students and their families will receive 50 pounds of nutritious food, the equivalent of 42 meals.
“This is such a meaningful partnership for TVA,” said Mark Creech, TVA Memphis executive director. “We are helping families who need nutritious meals, and our TVA associates can rollup their sleeves and help create the food boxes that the students and families will receive.”
This contribution from TVA also includes the purchase of a minivan necessary for food bank personnel to deliver the food for distribution to the school pantries and emergency supplies.
“The Mid-South Food Bank is thrilled to have TVA as a partner, and the volunteers are a needed bonus,” said Cathy Pope, Mid-South Food Bank, president & CEO. “This donation will help feed so many families that need healthy food. We truly appreciate this new partnership.”
Like Mid-South Food Bank, TVA is committed to service. It is TVA’s mission to make life better for the people in Memphis – and for the people it serves across the region.
The six schools receiving the new food pantries are: Northaven Elementary, Ross Elementary, A. B. Hill Elementary, Kipp Memphis Academy, Kirby Middle School and Wooddale Middle School.
Attending today’s announcement were TVA Board of Directors John Ryder, Ron Walter, and representatives from each school receiving a TVA Healthy School Pantry.
About Tennessee Valley Authority
The Tennessee Valley Authority is a corporate agency of the United States that provides electricity for business customers and local power companies serving nearly 10 million people in parts of seven southeastern states. TVA receives no taxpayer funding, deriving virtually all of its revenues from sales of electricity. In addition to operating and investing its revenues in its electric system, TVA provides flood control, navigation and land management for the Tennessee River system and assists local power companies and state and local governments with economic development and job creation.
About Mid-South Food Bank
Mid-South Food Bank serves a 31-county area in west Tennessee, north Mississippi and east Arkansas by providing food through a network of partner agencies and programs. Last fiscal year, the Food Bank distributed more than 16.7 million pounds of food.