PepsiCo donates $50,000 to Carolina food bank 

08 / 05 / 2020

• CSR
• news

The PepsiCo Foundation, the philanthropic arm of PepsiCo, announced donating $50,000 to the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina‘s 2020 Stop Summer Hunger Program to help support the communities affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The grant to the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina’s Stop Summer Hunger Campaign ensures that children continue to have access to nutritious food during the summer.

COVID-19 has reduced access to food and other essential goods for communities across the country including 22 million students who typically receive low-cost or free meals via the country’s National School Lunch program every day and now face school closures. For these reasons, much of The PepsiCo Foundation’s COVID-19 relief efforts in the US are focused on increasing access to nutrition for out-of-school children and families, including in North Carolina, which is the 10^th hungriest state in the US.

“With COVID-19 devastating the economy, this summer will be even more difficult than usual for the many children who depend on school meals for vital nutrition,” said Food Bank Eastern Regional Director George Young. “Our team has been stepping up to the challenge since summer started early, and we are especially grateful that – for the fifth year in a row – The PepsiCo Foundation has partnered with us to help provide nutritious meals, so that kids in central and eastern North Carolina can make the most of their summer break.”

“As the birthplace of Pepsi-Cola, New Bern will always be a special place for PepsiCo and our employees, and we are proud to stand with New Bern families especially at this difficult time when support is needed more than ever,” said Jon Banner, Executive Vice President, PepsiCo Global Communications and President, PepsiCo Foundation. “We commend the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina for stepping up to serve neighbors and thank Minges Bottling Group for their unwavering community support.”

The donation is part of PepsiCo’s commitment of more than $50 million focused on serving nutritious meals to people impacted by COVID-19 and providing vital support such as protective gear for healthcare workers, as well as testing and screening services.