Alex Juarez of CT Power, Phoenix, with Shara Merten, Samantha Landesman, Michelle Merkley and Erick Thomas, all from the Yuma Community Food BankThe gift of an X4 Series Model 7300 trailer refrigeration unit from Carrier Transicold is helping to expand the Yuma Community Food Bank’s “War on Hunger” in southwest Arizona.
The refrigeration unit, which will be used to transport and cool fruits, vegetables and other food products, was provided through a grant from parent company United Technologies Corp., to aid food banks in the Feeding America network. Carrier Transicold is a part of UTC Climate, Controls & Security, a unit of United Technologies Corp.
“I can’t tell you how exciting this is for us,” says Shara Merten, president and CEO, Yuma Community Food Bank. “When something this spectacular happens, we really appreciate it.”
Installed on a 53-ft. trailer, the X4 Series refrigeration unit will enable the food bank to double its geographic reach, extending beyond Yuma County into La Paz County to the north, a combined 10,000 square-mile region with a population of about 227,500. Additionally, since the refrigeration unit is compliant with strict emissions requirements of neighboring California, the refrigerated trailer can be used to collect food from that agricultural region and participate in food exchanges with southern California food banks — something the Yuma Community Food Bank was unable to do with its existing equipment.
“We are exceedingly grateful to have been a part of this project with the Yuma Community Food Bank,” says Alex Juarez, business development manager, CT Power of Phoenix, the Carrier Transicold dealership that installed the refrigeration unit and helped source the trailer. “Through this initiative, the food bank can continue its mission to relieve hunger among countless families throughout southwestern Arizona.”
The combined unemployment rate for Yuma and La Paz counties is well above the national average, and 20 percent of the families here are food insecure. Merten estimates that the value of the Carrier Transicold refrigeration unit equates to an additional 205,200 meals that can be served by the Yuma Community Food Bank. Each year, citizens classified as “working poor” make more than 200,000 visits to their food bank.
“As Carrier Transicold focuses on helping emerging nations develop their cold chains as a means of getting more perishable food to hungry people while reducing waste and the excess carbon emissions created, we recognize there are needs in the U.S. as well. That’s why we support Feeding America and its member food banks,” says Jon Shaw, director, Global Communications & Sustainability, Carrier Transicold & Refrigeration Systems.
In 2017, Carrier Transicold announced the program in support of Feeding America network food banks across the U.S. The grant, which was renewed for 2018, covers the cost of the equipment and installation of truck and trailer refrigeration units for individual food banks in the Feeding America network. Beyond Arizona, the program has helped more than a dozen food banks covering parts of Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Florida, Louisiana, Michigan, South Dakota, Nevada, Utah and California, according to an announcement.
