Factor, a ready-to-eat delivery service, says it plans to donate 10 refrigerated vans to hunger relief organizations in Aurora, Ill., and Goodyear, Ariz., where the company operates its facilities.
Factor currently works with food banks and partner agencies in the Feeding America network to help provide ready-to-eat meals and surplus ingredients to people facing hunger, according to a news release. By providing refrigerated vans that are equipped for transporting fresh, perishable food supplies, Factor says it is doubling down on its commitment to these partners, helping to eliminate logistical challenges that many food pantries face.
According to Feeding America, 47 million people in the U.S. are food insecure, meaning they do not have enough access to food to lead a healthy life. Food insecurity can have pervasive, long-term consequences on individuals’ well-being, including physical and mental health effects and missed school and work, the organization said.
Factor, a HelloFresh Group brand, says it is committed to being a part of the solution through its donation program, Fuel for Change, which provides the brand’s ready-to-eat meals to food pantries, community shelters, afterschool programs and more.
“The ongoing cost-of-living crisis has taken a tremendous toll on families across the country, and as a result, we have seen steady growth in food insecurity,” said Jeffrey Yorzyk, senior director of sustainability for HelloFresh. “Factor is proud to be in this fight in the communities where we serve our customers. We hope the addition of 10 refrigerated vans to local pantries and food banks will be beneficial to keeping these communities healthy and nourished.”
Speaking specifically to the aspect of getting fresh produce to those who need it most, Yorzyk said fresh food should not be considered a luxury.
“At HelloFresh and Factor, we believe everyone should have access to nutritious, wholesome foods, so they can live up to their full potential,” he said. “Through our work partnering with food banks across the country, we’ve found that a lot of these organizations encounter barriers to providing fresh food to the people they serve because of cold storage and transportation limitations, along with constrained budgets for appropriate vehicles that maintain cold chain during transportation. We hope this donation will help these outstanding organizations meet the growing needs of their communities.”
Many food pantries encounter barriers to providing nutritious foods to those they serve, due to storage limitations, constrained budgets and reliance on donations. The donated vans to these organizations will allow them to more easily source and distribute fresh meals, which are often highly perishable and require temperature-controlled conditions, the release said.
“We are grateful for Factor’s generous donation of meals and ingredients to help support our mission of ending hunger in America,” said Diane Letson, vice president of food industry partnerships for Feeding America. “The donation of vans to Feeding America’s partner food banks ensures fresh foods are donated safely, and with speed, throughout communities.”
“Factor’s generosity highlights the extraordinary impact partnerships can have in the fight against hunger, enabling us to reach more families with the fresh, nutritious food they need to thrive,” said Julie Yurko, president and CEO for Northern Illinois Food Bank, one of the organizations that will be receiving a van from Factor. “We are deeply grateful for Factor’s support and donation. This new van, with its ability to transport fresh, healthy food, will play a critical role in meeting the growing needs of our communities.”
Factor announced its intent to donate 10 vans during a press conference at its Aurora, Ill., distribution center. The event also celebrated a milestone of donating 1 million meals to local residents in need throughout the greater Chicago area and a commitment to continuing the Fuel for Change program throughout 2025, the release said.
