DALLAS—Food banks have been hit hard during the healthcare crisis and one company took action to do its part to contribute. In fact, within two weeks of its start, Trademark Property Company's C19 Community Initiative reached its goal of $200,000 to support food-based organizations across the country. Donations have been made and matched by Trademark in US communities where the Fort Worth-based retail and mixed-use development, investment and institutional services firm operates malls and retail properties.

"As a member of the retail industry, we've witnessed firsthand the devastating financial impacts that COVID-19 has had on furloughed restaurant, service and retail industry employees, as well as those in many other industries. We couldn't stand by and not figure out a way to help," said Terry Montesi, CEO of Trademark. "I am so proud of our employees, friends, partners and customers who stepped up with us to support these organizations."

Trademark launched its C19 Community Initiative in early April as a way to provide important immediate relief to families struggling to put food on the table. Through the initiative, Trademark spearheaded fundraising efforts among its employees, friends, partners and customers, and through the Trademark Make A Difference Foundation and the Allison and Terry Montesi Foundation, committed $100,000 in donation matching to support food banks.

"In the midst of this pandemic, we at Trademark wanted to help those hit hardest by the pandemic," Montesi tells GlobeSt.com. "With retail closures and furloughs happening across the country, many retail and food service workers are seeking help from food banks for the first time, and our C19 Community Initiative was a way to help those helping our retailer and restaurant workers and others in the community. Our properties will continue to get the word out, and we encourage everyone to find ways to continue giving to food banks and other organizations helping those in their community."

Since establishing its COVID-19 Response Fund on March 13, Feeding America has distributed $112.4 million and more than 94 million pounds to food banks throughout the network, helping provide nearly 79 million meals to neighbors facing hunger.

At the beginning of last month, Feeding America said that an estimated $1.4 billion in additional resources will be needed during the next six months to sustain operations and continue to provide food for those struggling with hunger, a 30% increase to the baseline six-month operating costs of its 200-member food banks nationwide.

"Last year, the US Department of Agriculture reported that 37 million people face hunger in America and the Feeding America network of food banks distributed 4.2 billion meals," said Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, CEO of Feeding America. "This year, the COVID-19 crisis is driving more of our neighbors into food insecurity and putting a strain on food banks to provide more meals. Never has the charitable food system faced such tremendous challenge, and we need all the resources we can get to help our neighbors during this terrible time."

Instant Insights /

Trademark Matches Donations for Food-Based Causes During COVID-19

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