BOISE, Idaho — Boise-based company Agri Beef is helping put meals on the tables of Idahoans in need with a donation of $25,000 worth of beef to the Idaho Foodbank.
The donation, made this month, marks the 10th anniversary of the Beef Counts program, which was formed to help get quality protein choices to the hungry. Meat is often a scarce commodity at food banks, according to President and CEO of The Idaho Foodbank Karen Vauk.
"It is fundamentally important to provide beef protein to individuals and families; giving them the essential nutrients to stay healthy in order to work through difficult times," said Vauk in a statement. "It is even more special during the holidays because this program not only provides families the opportunity to enjoy a holiday meal together, but also gives them the gift of knowing that someone cares."
Since 2010, the Beef Counts program has provided more than 1.7 million servings of beef to The Idaho Foodbank. The program was developed to provide a consistent supply of protein throughout the year, rather than making it only available at one time. Beef Counts is supported by Idaho cattle ranchers, the Idaho Cattle Association, Idaho CattleWomen Council, Idaho Beef Council and Agri Beef and grocery retailers like Albertson's.
Idaho's cattle ranchers, the Idaho Cattle Association, Idaho CattleWomen Council, Idaho Beef Council and Agri Beef; along with community fundraising and support from grocery retailers, including Albertson's.
"As we kick-off 2021, we know that protein insecurity isn't going away. We made our recent donation so families in Idaho will continue to have high-quality beef protein at their tables after the holidays are over," said Jay Theiler, Executive VP of Strategy and PR at Agri Beef. "A core value at Agri Beef is to provide high-quality beef to our customers. It is what we do for a living, so it just made sense that we continue to give back to families in our communities that are experiencing tough times."
