WATERLOO - The Northeast Iowa Food Bank received more than 30,000 pounds of food Thursday as part of Tyson Foods sponsorship of the 36th Register's Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa.

Tyson Foods has pledged to donate more than 500 pounds of protein-packed food per mile to affiliate food banks of America's Second Harvest in an effort to raise awareness for the fight against hunger.

"Before the flooding and tornadoes, the Food Bank and member agencies had seen an increase in demand of 25 percent. These disasters have heightened the need for our service to community and this protein donation will help us meet that need," said Barbara Prather, the food bank's executive director. "We are very grateful for the partnership we have with Tyson Foods."

Prather said this donation is particularly important because protein is not usually donated.

The 250,000 pounds will help bring more than 1 million meals to the communities served by the five food banks that serve Iowa. Other recipients include the Nebraska Food Bank Network, which serves the western part of Iowa; Food Bank of Iowa in Des Moines; Food Bank of Southern Iowa in Ottumwa; and Riverbend Food Bank in Moline, which serves eastern Iowa.

The Northeast Iowa Food Bank last year distributed more than 4.4 million pounds of food within a 16-county service area.