Our Community

Whether that is through decades of financial donations from the Franklin P. and Arthur W. Perdue Foundation and Perdue Farms, or the generosity of our associates through personal financial giving and volunteerism in support of causes that matter to them, our communities, and the company, our collective efforts represent hope.

Giving back has long been a part of the Perdue Farms culture. That tradition continues through our “Delivering Hope To Our Neighbors®” outreach to improve quality of life and build strong communities where we live and work, and beyond.

One of our key pillars through which we deliver hope in communities where our associates live and work, and beyond, is alleviating hunger and food insecurity. As a food company, we are uniquely positioned to help thousands of Americans experiencing food insecurity. Through collaborative partnerships, our nutritious protein donations helped struggling individuals and families put meals on their tables in FY24, especially during difficult economic times.

Since 2000, Perdue Farms has partnered with Feeding America® and its network of food banks to help neighbors in our communities who are struggling with food insecurity. Through our Fiscal Year 2024, we have delivered nearly 97 million pounds of protein to regional food banks serving our communities – the equivalent of almost 81 million meals. Perdue Farms was one of the first meat companies to implement a formal program of ongoing donations of perishable protein products, creating a model for other companies to follow.

We are also dedicated to Delivering Hope To Our Neighbors in our communities in other ways, including through the power of volunteerism and encouraging our associates to engage in causes to support our neighbors. Our associates have big hearts and are making a difference in their communities.

We also improve quality of life in our communities with targeted philanthropic partnerships through the Franklin P. and Arthur W. Perdue Foundation, the charitable giving arm of Perdue Farms. In FY24, the Foundation earmarked nearly $1.5 million to 69 nonprofits in our communities. The financial contributions strengthen our communities by focusing efforts on education, agriculture, the environment, health and social services, public safety, and fighting hunger and poverty.

In the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia, Perdue continued support for Blue Ridge Area Food Bank with funding and food for “Good Food School Market” Child Nutrition Program. The Good Food School Market is a privately funded child nutrition program that brings fresh produce and shelf-stable foods into schools for distribution to students and families experiencing food insecurity and seeks to reduce the stigma of receiving food assistance.

In Salisbury, Maryland, associates helped a family of six, including four children realize their dream of homeownership in partnership with Habitat for Humanity of Wicomico County. “It’s been wonderful that we’ve had this opportunity to be involved,” said Carrie Johnson, Perdue transportation manager. “Just seeing the family and knowing that they’re going to get their own home, their own place, especially for the children, it’s an amazing feeling.”

During Hunger Action Month in September, Perdue associate donated 11,000 pounds of non-perishable food and the company matched their donation that was delivered to local food banks.

The company also earmarked 400,000 pounds of no-antibiotics-chicken – the equivalent of 330,000 meals to 10 food banks including the Maryland Food Bank, Food Bank of Delaware, Middle Georgia Community Food Bank, Harvest Hope Food Bank in
South Carolina, Blue Ridge Area Food Bank, Food Bank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore and FeedMore in Virginia, and the Food Bank of the Albemarle, Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina, and Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina in North Carolina.

“High food prices have put a strain on everyone’s budget, which is why this donation of protein-rich chicken could not have come at a better time,” said Carmen Del Guercio, president and CEO of the Maryland Food Bank. “We’re grateful for partners
like Perdue Farms that recognize the challenges Maryland families currently face and are stepping in to make this donation available for our network of community partners to distribute across Maryland.”

In Mount Vernon, Washington, Perdue funding helps provide nutritious meals to 27,500 people served at the Community Action’s Skagit Food Distribution Center, a network of 19 food banks and hot meal programs.

In Sussex County, Delaware, Perdue Foundation funding enabled the Milton Community Food Pantry to build a new food distribution center with a walk- in freezer and cooler combination to better sort, store, and pack food boxes for more than 2,000 food-insecure neighbors.

United, We’re Making a Difference: In 2023, Perdue associates helped contribute more than $400,000 in personal pledges and fund-raising for local United Ways in our communities. Our associates’ donations often represent the largest percent of contributions to support those local United Way campaigns. The Franklin P. and Arthur W. Perdue Foundation provides partial matching grants to support associates’ contributions and other funding that supports United Way partners in our communities.

In western Kentucky, Perdue is helping the International Center of Kentucky provide refugees and immigrants much-needed transportation to job interviews and workplace orientation in the region. “For many refugees, transportation is often a barrier to securing employment,” said Albert Mbanfu, CEO of the International Center of Kentucky. “Funding support from Perdue Farms for a 76-seat bus and a van helps eliminate that barrier and is an important part of a support structure that enables them to assimilate and integrate into the community.”

In Salisbury, Maryland, Perdue provided financial support for the Haitian Development Center of Delmarva’s after-school program. The center provides such services as helping Haitian parents enroll their children in school, interpretation, and document translation. College student tutors provide homework help and polish learning skills of Haitian students in grades three to eight.

In Iowa, a $25,000 Perdue Foundation grant enables the Iowa Family Crisis Center to provide foster children a safe space to connect with their biological parents at a new family visitation and exchange center. The facility offers families and foster families a space for supervised visits, professional staff and a safe place to drop off and pick up children for custody exchanges. Before the new space, “Biological parents had no opportunity to enjoy a meaningful connection with their children in a semi-private setting. We’re grateful to have the support of Perdue Farms and to help remove barriers so families can spend quality time together,” said Jessica Rohrs, executive director for Family Crisis Centers.

In the suburban Atlanta area, Perdue Farms provided the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office a truckload protein donation to help feed more than 3,000 families during the department’s third annual Thanksgiving Drive-Thru Food Giveaway.

Brightening the Holidays for Children: Across our company footprint, associates provide holiday gifts for hundreds of children and families through partnerships with The Salvation Army Angel Tree program and other similar programs with nonprofits.