NEXTY Electronics America, Inc., a Toyota Tsusho Group company, has donated essential commercial-grade cold storage equipment to Second Harvest Foodbank of East Tennessee, enhancing the organization’s capacity to provide fresh, locally-sourced food to families in need.
The donated cold room, a substantial 1,875 square feet unit standing 21 feet tall, was carefully relocated from NEXTY’s Maryville facility to Donaldson Farms in Clay County, TN. Donaldson Farms is operated by John Donaldson, owner of D&D Meats and a Second Harvest Farm Advisor. “This donation will enable us to increase our storage capacity and provide more fresh, locally raised protein to those in need,” said Donaldson. D&D Meats is a crucial partner in Second Harvest’s Harvest to Hope Initiative, connecting local producers with communities facing food insecurity.
“This gift plays a meaningful role in helping us advance our mission,” said Kristi Rule, Chief Development Officer at Second Harvest Foodbank. “Cold storage capacity is one of the greatest barriers to distributing fresh, locally raised protein, and this donation allows us to provide more families with the nutrient-rich food they need to thrive.”
NEXTY was responsible for the donation, disassembly, loading, and transportation of the cold room equipment to Donaldson Farms. The company worked with local organizations, including The Blount Partnership, Perfection Group, Warehouse Optimizers, Inc., and TLD Logistics Services, Inc., a Toyota Tsusho Group company, to facilitate the complex disassembly and transportation process.
“We are thrilled that this refrigeration unit will serve the community in its next life,” stated Cal Lovin, General Manager of Operations, NEXTY Electronics America, Inc. “This donation reflects our commitment to supporting the communities where we operate and aligns with the Toyota Tsusho Group’s values of contributing to society.”
The cold room will be used for processing and storing beef, pork, and lamb, which will support over 200,000 individuals served by Second Harvest across 18 counties in East Tennessee. The addition of this cold storage capacity at D&D Meats will have both immediate and long-term impacts, increasing the amount of fresh protein reaching Second Harvest’s network of food pantries and partners, and reinforcing a more resilient local food system.
This donation is part of NEXTY Electronics America’s ongoing commitment to corporate social responsibility and community engagement in East Tennessee.