CHARLOTTE, NC - There are moments that show the true nature of who we are and, at present, we are in one. With COVID-19 impacting the food access and opportunities of many communities in the nation, Dole Food Company and Dole Packaged Foods have joined forces to partner with No Kid Hungry, a campaign to end childhood hunger in America.

“The No Kid Hungry campaign has a mission similar to the pledge that all Dole companies have committed themselves to for more than 150 years: nutritious food is the bridge to healthier, happier lives and stronger, more inclusive communities,” said William Goldfield, Dole Food Company’s Director of Corporate Communications. “Produce is the key to this and we believe that everyone should have access. The COVID-19 crisis has amplified both the needs to support communities and to stay healthy. We are excited to join with No Kid Hungry and step up to the challenge of our times. It is more important than ever."

The partnership involves the two Dole companies providing direct product donations in impacted cities, as well as nutrition education and at-retail initiatives to address hunger and ensure all children have access to three healthy meals a day.

“In the wake of this pandemic, more and more families have been forced to face hunger,” said David Spare, Vice President of Marketing for Dole Packaged Foods. “This alliance combines the global resources and distribution and retail network of Dole with No Kid Hungry’s track record of providing kids with the nutritious food they need to learn and thrive. The partnership also aligns with our recently announced Dole Promise which aims to increase access to sustainable nutrition [and] decrease food waste, plastics in packaging, and carbon emissions.”

Today, one in four children in the United States could face hunger this year because of the coronavirus.

As kids start the new school year, organizations urgently need assistance to ensure they have the healthy food they need to learn and thrive, according to a press release. The all-brand strategic partnership comes at a time when millions of school-age children have lost the healthy meals they once depended on at school.

“With school meal programs closed for the summer and millions of Americans struggling to afford food for their children, the work that the No Kid Hungry campaign does to provide meals to children in need is even more pressing,” said Tom Nelson, President and CEO of Share our Strength. “We are proud to partner with companies like Dole with the resources, reach, and retailer relationships that can help No Kid Hungry remove the obstacles to getting kids the nutritious meals they need—both during this crisis and every day.”

Under terms of the partnership, the two Dole sectors will provide assistance to No Kid Hungry in three areas according to the release:

• Direct Donation of Healthy Foods to Summer Meals Sites. Summer is always the hungriest time of year for children who depend on school meals. This summer, the crisis is even harder for hungry kids. Starting this month, Dole will work with No Kid Hungry to provide immediate support in targeted U.S. cities through direct donation of DOLE® fresh fruits and vegetables, packaged shelf-stable fruit, frozen fruit, dried fruit, and juices to summer meals sites
• Virtual Engagement with No Kid Hungry’s Sister campaign, Cooking Matters. In response to national trends showing that most U.S. households have and will continue to prepare the majority of their meals at home, Dole will leverage its generations of nutrition education leadership to create kid-friendly recipes, games and interactive activities as part of the Cooking Matters program, which empowers families to stretch their food budgets so they can cook healthy meals
• New Year Hunger Campaign: Consumer Education through Retail. Helping to take the No Kid Hungry message directly to consumers, Dole will work with its national retailer partners to host in-store new year promotions that generate awareness for childhood hunger in the United States

We would like to offer a huge thank you to all those in the fresh produce industry who are rallying their resources in times of need. We have deep gratitude for you all.

Dole Food Company