Butterball donates 145K pounds of turkey to disaster areas

Garner, N.C.-based turkey producer Butterball LLC, which has a Carthage plant, has in recent months donated 145,000 pounds of turkey products to food banks in areas adversely affected by natural disasters, including southwest Missouri.

Springfield-based Ozarks Food Harvest received more than 39,000 pounds of donated turkey this week, according to a news release.

“We greatly appreciate Butterball’s generous contribution,” said Scott Boggs, Ozarks Food Harvest warehouse facility supervisor, in the release. “The company’s donations and overall relief efforts will help us provide food and supplies to hundreds of severely impacted community members."

Butterball also is participating in Joplin Public Schools' Adopt-a-Classroom program, which helps to replenish materials and supplies destroyed by the May 22 tornado.

“On behalf of Butterball, our thoughts and sympathies go out to all of those impacted by the storms," Butterball President Walter Pelletier said in the release. "We know the damage is extensive; just within our company, 92 associates and their families were severely affected.

"We are hopeful that our efforts are helping to eliminate at least one of the uncertainties these families are facing by providing wholesome meals."

The company also started the Butterball Disaster Relief Fund, which to date has raised and distributed more than $25,000 to disaster areas through donations from customers and company supporters. Food and monetary donations also have been funneled to food banks in eastern North Carolina and western Alabama, according to the release.[[In-content Ad]]