Shelia Johnson

By Ed Nicholson

 

Ethel Shepherd

Ethel Shepherd is the Tyson Hunger All-Star of the Month for October. You can read Ethel's inspiring story here, but in brief, for the past 25 years, she has been collecting and distributing food for those at risk of hunger in her home town of Mountain Grove, Missouri. 
In the past nine years, as Tyson Foods has become increasingly involved in hunger relief, we've encountered hundreds of "Ethels" around the country: inspiring people who are working selflessly, innovatively and creatively to end hunger in their own communities.   We created the Hunger All-Star program to honor and recognize the work of these people.  Because they deserve it. Because they inspire others to become involved. Because they make a difference.
Perhaps you know someone like Ethel. We would encourage you to nominate them here as a Hunger All-Star.  Even if they're not selected as a Hunger All-Star of the Month,  if they've made a valid contribution, we'll put your nomination up on this site as recognition.  If they are selected as Hunger All-Star of the Month, the Feeding America food bank serving their area will receive a truckload of Tyson products, donated in their honor.
On Monday, Ethel Shepherd received the Hunger All-Star of the Month Award at Ozarks Food Harvest Food Bank in Springfield.  She honored us all by celebrating her 80th birthday at the award ceremony.  And she's still going strong. 

Each week, more than 3,000 hungry residents in Raleigh receive a meal that includes fresh and nutritious foods because of the passion and tenacity that Ann Bumgardner brings to the fight against hunger. Today Tyson Foods recognized the impact that Ann’s volunteer work has made in the lives of families in North Carolina and selected her as the next Tyson Hunger All-Star, an honor that comes with a donation of more than 15 tons of protein to the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle. 

Ann’s volunteerism is an excellent example of the Tyson Hunger All-Star program’s belief that one person can make a difference in the fight against hunger. After retiring from a career as an occupational therapist and raising five sons, Ann found a new calling. Each day she travels to the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle to “work the Market.”

In 2007 the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle recovered 5.7 million pounds of food and provided it free of charge to soup kitchens, church pantries, shelters and other human-service organizations. The single largest food donor is the North Carolina State Farmers Market—providing 1.5 million pounds of perishable food annually—and nearly all of that food is directly attributable to the hard work of Ann Bumgardner.