Vicksburg, Miss. - September 21, 2012 - Jackson State University, the National Urban League and Tyson Foods, Inc., donated a truckload of food to the Mississippi Food Network this week as part of an effort to feed people in need and promote public awareness of hunger in Mississippi.

The donation, which includes 32,000 pounds of protein, will be distributed by the Mississippi Food Network to many of its 415 affiliates statewide. The event is a continuation of a year-long pilot program announced in June that targets Mississippi because of its high rate of food insecurity. The grass-roots, community-based program, dubbed The Urban League-Tyson Foods Hunger Project Mississippi, aims to alleviate hunger for more than 19,000 people in several Mississippi counties.

The donation served as the official kickoff for two "KNOW Hunger" Nutrition Fairs that are also part of the Urban League-Tyson Foods campaign. The fairs were held in Vicksburg on Sept. 19 and Jackson on September 20 and were free to the public.

"The well-being of Mississippians is extremely important to Jackson State University, and we want to raise hunger awareness in any way we can," said David Hoard, vice president of institutional advancement for Jackson State University. "Participating in the 'KNOW Hunger' Nutrition Fairs is one of the many ways we are pouring into the community where we live and work."

The fairs featured free health screenings, health and wellness training and meal planning and preparation. The Salvation Army, We Care Community Services, American Red Cross, the Jackson State University-Fitness Center and River City Rescue Mission were among the participating organizations.

"The 'KNOW Hunger' Nutrition Fairs offered information to help residents with their health and lifestyle choices," said Jeff Wood, community relations manager for Tyson Foods. "We're thrilled so many community-based organizations are took part in these fairs, which provide information that can make a difference in the lives of the people who attend."

Tyson Foods has donated more than 124,000 pounds of protein this year to hunger relief in Mississippi, which, at 22 percent, has the highest food insecurity rate in the nation, according to Feeding America, the country's leading hunger organization. That amounts to more than 650,000 people, or nearly 1 of every 4 residents. Twenty-two percent of Mississippi's food insecure children are likely income-ineligible for federal nutrition assistance.

"We are so grateful to our donors for this nutritious food that will enable us to provide a high-quality protein to people who struggle to put food on the table," saidWalker Satterwhite, executive director of the Mississippi Food Network.

Last year Tyson launched the "KNOW Hunger" campaign to raise hunger awareness. As part of the campaign, the company released the results of a survey which found that one in four Americans is worried about having enough money to put food on the table and that many Americans are unaware of how serious hunger is in their own communities. Raising awareness that hunger exists in every community in the country reinforces the campaign's imperative that "We should all KNOW Hunger." 

This June, The National Urban League and Tyson Foods co-launched their namesake project in Mississippi in an effort to provide lasting hunger relief in the nation's most food insecure state. For more information on the Urban League-Tyson Foods Hunger Project Mississippi, visithttps://www.tysonhungerrelief.com/mshungerproject/.

Tyson Foods has fought hunger in the U.S. for a decade, donating more than 88 million pounds of protein. The company partners with Food Research and Action Center, Feeding America, Share Our Strength, Lift Up America and the League of United Latin American Citizens to raise awareness and help feed the hungry across the nation.  

Meat and poultry are excellent sources of heme iron, which is especially important for women, children and adolescent girls, who are often deficient in iron. For more information on the nutritional value of meat and poultry, go to:https://www.meatpoultrynutrition.org/ht/d/sp/i/26062/pid/26062