PepsiCo Grant Buys Freightliner Truck for The Food Bank for Westchester

The following announcement is from The Food Bank for Westchester and PepsiCo:

The Food Bank for Westchester, which supplies 265 frontline hunger relief programs across the County, will be able to double the amount of food it receives from retail locations while at the same time significantly increasing efficiency thanks to a new custom-designed truck donated by PepsiCo.

Funded by a grant from Westchester-based PepsiCo, the 16-foot Freightliner truck went into service today following a dedication ceremony at the Food Bank’s Elmsford distribution center. The shorter length of the 2015 model refrigerated, heavy-duty truck makes it easier to maneuver in the tight quarters and narrow streets encountered in many Westchester communities, particularly in older downtown neighborhoods of Yonkers, Mount Vernon and New Rochelle.

Toby Pidgeon, Director of Operations at the Food Bank, said the truck will be used to pick up food donated by retail stores including supermarkets and grocers, as well as larger bakeries and specialty food stores. “This truck truly is a game-changer for us,” he commented. “We can now increase the amount of perfectly good food provided by retailers that would normally be thrown away. In 2014, our new Retail Recovery Program provided 271,000 meals to the community. With the PepsiCo truck we project we will be able to double that to 550,000 meals this year.”

Pidgeon said that the Food Bank’s fleet of 26-foot trucks is difficult to maneuver in the tight quarters that are often encountered at retail locations. “It takes a lot of time to navigate the narrow streets. This inefficiency has slowed the expansion of our Retail Recovery Program. Our partners are ready to go. We currently pick up at all Stop & Shop locations in the County and select A&P and Shoprite stores. These wonderful companies are willing to do more and now we can handle all of their stores. That alone is a significant expansion.”

Other retailer stores in Westchester currently participating in the Food Bank’s Retail Recovery Program include Whole Foods, DeCicco’s, Sam’s Club, Trader Joe’s and BJ’s, and Pidgeon said others are now welcome to sign on. “We already have 30 pickups on schedule for the PepsiCo truck,” he said.

Retailers interested in participating in the program should contact Bob Silvia, Food Sourcing Manager at the Food Bank. (914) 909-9621.

Ellen Lynch, Food Bank Executive Director said “Our job at the Food Bank is to identify and leverage all available resources in the fight against hunger in Westchester. The Retail Recovery Program enables us to capture food that otherwise would go to waste and provide it to those who need it. We already had key resources in place to do that, generous retail partners, agency partners and dedicated staff who know how to move food. Now we have the right truck to do the job. The PepsiCo truck is key to our future success in this program which we absolutely know has enormous potential. As a community we will waste less, less time, less gas and less food. At the same time we will feed more people. It is the extremely generous support from PepsiCo that is making all this possible.”

Sue Norton, PepsiCo Vice President of Global Citizenship, said the company was excited to be playing a role in the expansion of the Retail Recovery Program. “Hunger relief in Westchester is of vital importance to us. We are so glad to have the chance to give back to our community in this special way – and to help the Food Bank for Westchester address the pressing issue of hunger right here in our backyard.”

In addition to purchasing the truck and funding associated expenses for getting it on the road, the company also provided funding for first year operating costs.

Last week employees at four PepsiCo locations in Westchester conducted food drives at their respective sites. Employees loaded the new truck with an array of healthy foods including whole grain pastas, cereals and canned fruits which were then taken to Food Bank’s distribution center. “It was a very positive experience to get so many people directly involved,” said Pidgeon, “and it gave us a chance for some test runs with the new truck.”

It took three months to fully outfit the truck. “It was custom-designed to meet our specific needs,” Pidgeon explained. “Truck Country of Wisconsin handled the build-out which included refrigeration, easy-to-clean aluminum flooring, pallet tie-downs and heavy-duty suspension to accommodate high weight loads.

“This truck will change our retail recovery operations completely,” Pidgeon said. “It gives us a level of flexibility we have never had before. We are now in a position to expand our Retail Recovery Program in a very significant way and that’s a win for everyone.”

Photo: From left, Rick Rakow, Chairman of the Board, Food Bank for Westchester; Ellen Lynch, Executive Director, Food Bank for Westchester; Kevin Plunkett, Deputy Westchester County Executive (back row); Sue Norton, PepsiCo Vice President of Global Citizenship; Toby Pidgeon, Director of Operations at Food Bank for Westchester. Photo credit: Contributed

About The Food Bank for Westchester

Incorporated in 1988, The Food Bank for Westchester is one of eight regional food banks in New York State. It acquires, warehouses and distributes more than 7.2 million pounds of food annually to 265 frontline hunger-relief programs including food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, day care and residential programs serving an estimated 200,000 Westchester residents who are hungry or at risk of being hungry. The Food Bank’s 37,000-square-foot distribution center in Elmsford includes the largest refrigerator and freezer in Westchester County.

About PepsiCo

PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated more than $66 billion in net revenue in 2013, driven by a complementary food and beverage portfolio that includes Frito-Lay, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Quaker and Tropicana. PepsiCo’s product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages, including 22 brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales. At the heart of PepsiCo is Performance with Purpose – our goal to deliver top-tier financial performance while creating sustainable growth in shareholder value. In practice, Performance with Purpose means providing a wide range of foods and beverages from treats to healthy eats; finding innovative ways to minimize our impact on the environment and reduce our operating costs; providing a safe and inclusive workplace for our employees globally; and respecting, supporting and investing in the local communities where we operate. For more information, visit www.pepsico.com.