Poultry Industry Donates 519,600 Servings to Charities
Mississippi poultry and egg companies kick off their 2026 giving season with a donation of chicken and eggs for charities chosen by Gov. Tate Reeves.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Philanthropy
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Mississippi poultry and egg companies donated more than 97,000 pounds of chicken and over 129,000 eggs, totaling more than 519,600 servings of protein at the direction of Gov. Tate Reeves. The Mississippi Food Network and the Salvation Army will receive the donated food for distribution.
Why it matters
The donation is timed ahead of the winter holidays and extends an annual giving program run by the Mississippi Poultry Association. It highlights the industry's role as the state's largest agricultural sector.
The donation comprises more than 97,000 pounds of chicken and over 129,000 eggs, and members have given over 1 million pounds of chicken and 2 million eggs since the program began. The source does not state how the donation is divided between the Mississippi Food Network and the Salvation Army.
The players
Tate Reeves
Tate Reeves is the Governor of Mississippi, who directed the donation and selected the charities receiving it.
Mississippi Poultry Association
The Mississippi Poultry Association is the trade group whose members make up the donating companies and run the annual giving program.
Mississippi Food Network
The Mississippi Food Network is a statewide hunger-relief organization that distributes donated food to food banks and partner agencies across Mississippi.
Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is an international charitable organization that provides social services and emergency food assistance, including in Mississippi.
The details
Seven Mississippi Poultry Association members, including Amick Farms, Cal Maine Foods, Koch Foods, Mar-Jac Poultry MS, Peco Foods, Tyson Foods, and Wayne-Sanderson Farms, are contributing to the donation. Reeves called for the food to go to the Mississippi Food Network and the Salvation Army.
Timeline
• 2026: Poultry and egg industry begins its annual giving season with this donation.
• Ahead of the winter holidays: Donation timed for the holiday season.
Roadmap
This donation continues an annual pattern set by the Mississippi Poultry Association, which has now delivered six million servings of protein since the program began. It reinforces the poultry and egg industry's position as the state's largest agricultural sector.
Mississippi residents facing food insecurity may see donated chicken and eggs reach local food banks through the Mississippi Food Network and the Salvation Army. The source does not state specific distribution dates or locations.
The takeaway
Industry-led giving programs can deliver large volumes of protein to food-insecure residents, and the annual cadence of this donation suggests a recurring source of support during the winter months. Readers interested in participating locally can check with the Mississippi Food Network for donation opportunities.
Further reading
Explore more Philanthropy coverage tied to Mississippi's charitable giving efforts.
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