Winter storm Uri has created a humanitarian crisis for Texas residents, impacting transportation and the availability of nutrition across the state. With food supplies dwindling and food banks and nonprofits heroically offering aid while grappling with logistical issues, PepsiCo and The PepsiCo Foundation are providing approximately 200,000 meals to Texas residents in partnership with The Salvation Army.
The PepsiCo Foundation’s Food for Good nutrition team delivered 22,000 breakfast and lunch shelf-stable meals to The Salvation Army. The PepsiCo Foundation also plans to contribute a $200,000 grant to The Salvation Army to provide an additional 190,000 meals that will be supplied through both its mobile feeding units and directly to families impacted by the storm.
“We have been at home in Texas for nearly a century, so PepsiCo is committed to helping our Texas employees, partners and neighbors brave this horrific storm,” says Steven Williams, CEO, PepsiCo Foods North America. The company will “provide vital nutrition resources to those in need to help Texans withstand and recover.”
Meals provided in partnership with The Salvation Army with include non-perishable items such as fruit, vegetables and protein along with self-care essentials like toothbrushes and first aid kits. All relief will be distributed in coordination with Texas Feeding Task Force in order to avoid duplicating efforts or wasting resources.
To aid in storm-relief efforts, The PepsiCo Foundation also plans to contribute a total of $50,000 to Dallas-area nonprofits including CitySquare’s The Hope Fund to offer support including groceries, personal hygiene items, emergency financial assistance, legal services, homeless prevention services and access to health care, and For Oak Cliff to provide financial relief to go toward affected families’ utilities, health care costs and essentials such as food and water.
In addition, PepsiCo Beverages North America (PBNA) is donating more than 70,000 bottles of Aquafina water to local community organizations including the Houston Public Works Department and warming centers in Dallas.
As a member of the Texas community since the 1930s, PepsiCo is proud to work with The Salvation Army to fund a resupply of food and water that is desperately needed.
If you need assistance, please contact your local Salvation Army to find out what resources are available. Visit https://www.salvationarmytexas.org/ to learn how to help.