Cardinals, State Farm donate 1 million meals to food banks

Five Arizona food banks will receive a combined 1 million meals purchased by the Arizona Cardinals and State Farm, who are lending a hand amid coronavirus-caused shortages.

The meals will be distributed to St. Mary’s Food Bank, St. Vincent DePaul, United Food Bank, Phoenix Rescue Mission and Midwest Food Bank as donations have dropped off in recent weeks.

“We’re incredibly grateful to State Farm for the opportunity to work with them on this critically important initiative,” Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill said in a release. “Both of our organizations place community involvement among our highest priorities and recognize the impact that we can make, particularly in extraordinary times like now.

“The non-profit groups receiving these meals do tremendous work and we are honored to assist them in this way.”

The Cardinals have already contributed $1 million to the Arizona coronavirus relief fund.

The fund will help pay for personal protective equipment for medical personnel battling the COVID-19 virus; support non-profits that help vulnerable Arizonans through food banks, homeless shelters and domestic violence facilities; and help disadvantaged students pay for the technology necessary for them to transition to online learning through social distancing periods.

The team has also held multiple blood drives at State Farm Stadium.

Additionally, DeAndre Hopkins, whom the Cardinals agreed to acquire in a trade with the Houston Texans, donated $150,000 to the state’s coronavirus relief fund. Linebacker Chandler Jones committed 150,000 meals to food banks in Arizona and New York.

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