UNITED STATES-America’s Egg Farmers Donate More Than 12 Million Eggs To Food Banks Nationwide
This Easter, America’s egg farmers continue to play an active role in their local communities by teaming up with Feeding America to donate more than 12 million eggs to food banks across the country. The eggs are being donated to nearly 100 local food banks spanning 95 cities in 35 states across the country beginning March 18 and leading up to Easter on April 12.
According to a recent Feeding America study, emergency food assistance nationwide is up roughly 30 percent compared to one year ago. And fresh eggs are always a prized item for food banks due to their dense nutritional and high protein content.
"Eggs have always been an important staple in the American diet, but they are also one of the hardest food categories to acquire," said Vicki Escarra, president and CEO of Feeding America. "With our food banks reporting a 30 percent average increase in demand for emergency food assistance compared to one year ago, this egg donation comes at the perfect time."
This marks the second year in a row United Egg Producers and Feeding America, the nation’s food bank network, are teaming up to help ensure America’s food banks are well stocked with nutrient-dense eggs. The nationwide partnership will help the 36 million people (12% of the population) who are at risk of hunger in the United States, including more than seven million families (9.8%) and more than 13 million children (18%) under the age of 18.
"United Egg Producers, which represents 97% of America’s egg farmers, is dedicated to helping those less fortunate in our local communities across the country," said Gene Gregory, president of United Egg Producers. "Our hope is that this donation makes a significant difference in the lives of many people who live at risk of hunger, especially during the Easter holiday."
Stretched out shell to shell (each egg is approximately two and a half inches long), the more than 12 million donated eggs, or 42 tractor trailers worth -- each truck contains 800 cases, or 288,000 eggs -- would equal 473 miles of eggs. A powerhouse of nutrition for their size and caloric content, every egg has 13 essential nutrients including the highest quality protein -- choline, folate, iron and zinc -- with only 75 calories.
