(Radio Iowa) – The Food Bank of Siouxland got a record-breaking donation today (Thursday) from Perdue Farms and the Feeding America program. Food Bank Director Jacob Wanderscheid says Perdue delivered 80-thousand pounds of frozen chicken breasts.

“This will be the biggest single donation that we received at one time of a greatly needed product in chicken,” he says. “Protein is the number one item that gets asked for, and top three of the categories that get distributed.” He says it will fill up their freezer space.

“We did work with Perdue to try to get it in two different shipments so that we could get the first shipment to get into the warehouse. We have room for the second one and we’re working with our partners like Hope Food Pantry in Sioux Center distribute this.It should start leaving our warehouse by Monday,” Wanderscheid says. Gary Malenke is the senior vice president of Perdue Farms in Sioux Center, and says the Siouxland donation is part of a larger overall effort.

Jacob Wanderscheid next to a pallet of chicken. (KSCJ photo)

“Today is the single largest donation that Perdue has ever made the history of the company,” he says. “Over three-point-three million pounds of product being delivered across the United States today. really kind of in recognition of leap day and you know the need for another day to feed ourselves.”

The Siouxland area covers 11 counties and it is estimated that more than 25-thousands resident don’t have enough food, including 42 percent of all children.