North American Meat Institute
WASHINGTON, DC – In recognition of National Hot Dog Day, members of the North American Meat Institute (NAMI or the Meat Institute) worked with Feeding America to donate more than 325,000 hot dogs to foodbanks across the nation for people in need during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Meat Institute members have donated millions of dollars and meat and poultry products to Americans in need since the beginning of this crisis,” said Meat Institute President and CEO Julie Anna Potts. “For National Hot Dog Day, we wanted to work with Feeding America because the need is still so great. Our members are providing nutritious protein, but also a comforting and iconic American food for families.”
“Feeding America is grateful to the North American Meat Institute for their commitment to fighting hunger,” said Blake Thompson, Chief Supply Chain Officer, Feeding America. “During this challenging time, when food banks are seeing demand rise by as much as 70%, support from our partners is critical. The meat industry donations will help many families who struggle to make ends meet.”
The Meat Institute would like to recognize the following members and partners for their generosity, supporting 25 food banks and many more community partners around the country:
|
NAMI Member Company
|
Feeding America Food Bank
|
|
Boar’s Head
|
Mid Ohio Food Bank, Grove City, Ohio
|
|
Clemens Food Group/Hatfield
|
Second Harvest Food Bank of Lehigh Valley & NEPA in Allentown, PA.
|
|
Feeding America West Michigan Foodbank, Comstock Park, MI and Greater Cleveland Foodbank, Cleveland, OH
|
|
|
Dietz and Watson
|
Philabundance, Philadelphia, PA; Capital Area Food Bank, Washington D.C.; Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina, Charlotte, NC; Maryland Food Bank, Baltimore, MD and The Greater Boston Food Bank, Boston, MA.
|
|
Ebels General Store/Little Town Jerky
|
Feeding America West Michigan Food Bank, Cadillac, MI.
|
|
Flocchini Family Provisions
|
Food Bank of Northern Nevada, McCarron, NV.
|
|
Kent Quality Foods
|
Feeding America West Michigan Food Bank, Cadillac, MI.
|
|
Lower Foods
|
Utah Food Bank, Salt Lake City, UT
|
|
Nueske’s
|
Greater Chicago Food Depository, Chicago, IL.
|
|
Old World Provisions
|
Regional Food Bank of Northeast NY, Albany, NY
|
|
Omaha Steaks
|
Food Bank for the Heartland, Omaha, NE.
|
|
Original Hot Dog Factory
|
Atlanta Community Food Bank, Atlanta, GA
|
|
Sigma Foods Inc.
|
Houston Food Bank, Houston, TX. and San Antonio Food Bank, San Antonio, TX.
|
|
Smithfield Foods
|
City Harvest, New York, NY
|
|
Sysco Cleveland
|
Greater Cleveland Food Bank, Cleveland, OH
|
|
Ball Park® Brand (Tyson Foods)
|
Feeding Tampa Bay, Tampa, FL.; Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, Orlando, FL; Feeding South Florida, Pembroke Park, FL
|
|
Uncle Charley’s Sausage Co.
|
Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, Pittsburgh, PA
|
|
Usingers in partnership with Shake Shack
|
Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI
|
|
Zweigles
|
Foodlink, Inc. Rochester, NY
|
Traditionally, National Hot Dog Day activities celebrate the cultural, social and nutritional value of America’s summer favorite, the hot dog. For more than 40 years, the North American Meat Institute (Meat Institute) has celebrated National Hot Dog Day on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, serving up hot dogs to lawmakers and their staff in one of the most anticipated events of the year.
This year the economic uncertainty due to COVID-19 has changed this annual celebration into an opportunity for the meat and poultry industry to help millions of Americans turning to foodbanks, many for the first time, to feed their families.