Pilgrim’s Partners with Carroll County Soup Kitchen as Part of Hometown Strong Initiative

Press Release May 11, 2021
Hslogo Pilgrims Corrected

Pilgrim’s Carrollton recently presented a $22,100 check to the Carroll County Soup Kitchen to purchase and install a walk-in freezer, which will help to alleviate food insecurity in the community.

In September 2020, Pilgrim’s announced a $325,000 investment in Carrollton, Ga., to support the community’s future through the company’s Hometown Strong program.

“In addition to regular donations of chicken products to the Carroll County Soup Kitchen, I’m proud that Pilgrim’s Carrollton can lend a helping hand by donating a new freezer that will enable the organization to feed even more community members,” said Ricky Walker, Pilgrim’s Carrollton complex manager. “We are honored to partner with an organization that does so much for our neighbors.”

"This new freezer/refrigerator will enable the Soup Kitchen to take advantage of food availability and donations, while allowing us to have a refrigerator for fresh produce and the ability to switch to a freezer for frozen foods,” said Thomas Arnold, chairman of the board of directors, Carroll County Soup Kitchen. “This donation allows us to have a more secure food supply and reserve. We greatly appreciate this awesome contribution from Pilgrim's to help reduce food insecurity in our community."

The Pilgrim’s Carrollton facility employs 667 people with an annual payroll of $22 million. The facility supports 83 growers, paying them more than $18 million per year for their livestock. 

Pilgrim’s anchors dozens of rural communities – operating more than 30 meat poultry and prepared foods facilities and employing 31,000-plus people in the United States. Nationally, the Hometown Strong initiative is a $20 million investment from Pilgrim’s, which is part of a $50 million nationwide contribution from JBS USA. Visit hometownstrong.jbssa.com to learn more.