Carrier Transicold is providing a Model 35X direct-drive refrigeration unit, through a national grant program with Feeding America, to Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeastern Michigan. The unit will be used to support the School Food Mobile program, which delivers food and milk to school-aged children who are not receiving meals at school due to coronavirus-related closures. 

Carrier Transicold and its refrigerated truck technology are supporting the critical distribution of food to communities in need during this unprecedented time, including through food banks. Gleaners serves the southeastern Michigan community, which is faced with an increased need for support following school and business closures.

Separately, Carrier Transicold is donating a Supra 950 truck refrigeration unit for a new 28-foot box truck that will support Gleaners’ expanded emergency response efforts, including 66 new drive-up food distribution sites, modeled after Gleaners’ School Food Mobile program. The new distribution sites provide nutritious, healthy food to students and families in low-income areas. Each distribution site provides 300 families with up to 36 pounds of food, including fresh vegetables, fruit, whole grains, and lean protein.

In response to the global pandemic, Carrier Transicold has prioritized its funding for food banks that have increased need for refrigerated transport and temporary cold storage.

Since 2017, Carrier Transicold has contributed $600,000 in support of Feeding America’s network of 200 food banks, with Carrier Transicold’s nationwide dealer network providing installation and service support. According to Feeding America, every dollar contributed provides for at least 10 meals, equating to 6 million meals that will have been donated since the inception of Carrier Transicold’s social outreach program. 

To date, Carrier’s contributions have funded 24 truck and trailer refrigeration units for food banks serving 20 states, with more to come.

“Carrier Transicold is proud to provide its industry-leading cold chain technology to aid food banks in delivering perishable food to communities most affected by the global pandemic,” said Jon Shaw, director, sustainability, Carrier Transicold & Refrigeration Systems.

Named Feeding America’s Food Bank of the Year for 2019, Gleaners operates distribution centers in five Michigan counties and provides food to 519 partner soup kitchens, food pantries, shelters and other agencies throughout southeastern Michigan. Last year, Gleaners distributed nearly 46 million pounds of food, averaging more than 100,000 meals each day, including providing nourishing food and nutrition education to nearly 430,000 people, 40% of whom are children.

About Carrier Transicold

Carrier Transicold helps improve transport and shipping of temperature controlled cargoes with a complete line of equipment and services for refrigerated transport and cold chain visibility. For more than 50 years, Carrier Transicold has been an industry leader, providing customers around the world with advanced, energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable container refrigeration systems and generator sets, direct-drive and diesel truck units, and trailer refrigeration systems. Carrier Transicold is a part of Carrier Global Corporation, a leading global provider of innovative HVAC, refrigeration, fire, security and building automation technologies.

Click here for more COVID-19 coverage and how it is affecting the refrigerated and frozen foods industry.