The Mazda Foundation announced a $50,000 grant to the Food Bank of North Alabama to help the organization meet unprecedented demand for food caused by the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The funds will enable the Food Bank of North Alabama to serve 350,000 meals to residents across several North Alabama counties.

The award announced today is the second emergency donation that the Mazda Foundation has made to the Food Bank of North Alabama since the pandemic began in March. In total, the foundation has awarded $94,000 to the Food Bank of North Alabama this year, signifying its commitment to be a strong partner in the neighborhoods in which Mazda manufactures and sells its vehicles.

“The Food Bank of North Alabama is very appreciative of this generous funding from the Mazda Foundation as we seek to respond to the growing number of people seeking food assistance, especially families who have never needed help before,” said Shirley Schofield, executive director of the Food Bank of North Alabama.

“The pandemic has created enormous need in communities across the country,” said Jeff Guyton, president of Mazda North American Operations and chairman of the Mazda Foundation (USA), Inc. “Addressing a fundamental need like food security is a clear expression of the Mazda Foundation’s guiding principle that what matters most is one another.”

The award to the Food Bank of North Alabama is one of nine grant awards that the Mazda Foundation made this month to address food insecurity in six major metropolitan areas across the United States. In total, the grants will enable the awardees to serve an estimated 730,000 meals in the next 12 months.

“Mazda Toyota Manufacturing is committed to serving as a hometown company in our North Alabama Community,” said Masashi Aihara, president of Mazda Toyota Manufacturing. “We appreciate the ongoing support of this commitment demonstrated by donations to important nonprofit partners such as the Food Bank of North Alabama by our parent companies, Mazda and Toyota.”