The Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley announced the addition of a refrigerated truck to its current fleet in Pharr on Tuesday, as well as additional funding to assist with mobile food distributions.
According to a news release, Darden Restaurants Inc. Foundation — the charitable arm of Darden Restaurants — Lineage Logistics and Penske collaborated in providing the food bank with the refrigerated truck and $52,000.
“As a result of record inflation, approximately 244,000 people across our service territory in the Rio Grande Valley may face hunger,” Libby A. Saenz, CEO of Food Bank RGV, said in the release. “We are proud to partner with the Darden Restaurants Foundation, the Lineage Foundation for Good and Penske. During this time of heightened need, the addition to our food bank’s fleet of vehicles is welcomed and appreciated.”
In July, the food bank had also received a refrigerated truck which was donated courtesy of MolinaCares Accord, in partnership with H-E-B.
“Families face hunger in every community across the country; your neighbor, child’s classmate or even coworker may be struggling to get enough to eat,” Stephanie Ghertner, executive director of the Darden Restaurants Foundation, said in the release. “Darden and the Darden Restaurants Foundation are proud to partner with Feeding America member food banks to address the significant issue of hunger in a tangible and meaningful way.”
The Darden Restaurants Foundation, the Lineage Foundation for Good and Penske, are currently supporting 10 Feeding America member food banks with a grant valued at more than $2.3 million. The Food Bank RGV is one of those members.
With the addition of the new refrigerated truck, the Food Bank RGV will now have the capability to deliver approximately 5.2 million pounds of food each year.
