Neighbors Helping Neighbors: DataBank’s Food Drive Success

By Steve Phillips, Vice President of Human Resources, DataBank

At DataBank, we’re more than digital infrastructure. We’re neighbors, community members, and partners in the cities where our data centers operate. From Dallas to Minneapolis, Phoenix to Northern Virginia, our facilities are woven into the fabric of local communities, and we take that responsibility seriously. Being a good neighbor means showing up when it matters most.

That’s why we launched our company-wide food drive from August through September 2025, inviting teams across our 65-plus data center locations to organize local food donation and other efforts. Food insecurity affects millions of Americans, and the need becomes even more urgent during the fall and winter months when families face additional financial pressures. We wanted to mobilize our national footprint to make a tangible difference where our people live and work, serving the communities we’re proud to call home.

While participation was voluntary, several of our data center teams stepped up in a big way. The results remind us that when you combine local knowledge with genuine commitment, even small actions create meaningful impact.

Here are some highlights from DataBank teams who answered the call.

Denver: Feeding the Rockies

The Denver metro team made a massive impact, donating 1,806 pounds of food to the Food Bank of the Rockies. This generous contribution translated into 1,500 meals for families across the Rocky Mountain region facing food insecurity. The drive brought so many employees together around a shared commitment to community service.

Salt Lake City: Supporting Families and Young Patients

Our Salt Lake City team collected 554 pounds of food and raised $300 in donations for Tabitha’s Way, a Utah organization serving families in need. The team also contributed 43 bags of clothes and six additional boxes of items to Tabitha’s Way.

Beyond food and clothing security, they demonstrated care for young patients by donating approximately 25-30 handmade fleece blankets along with clothing to Primary Children’s Hospital, bringing comfort to children during difficult times.

Houston: Feeding Families with Variety

The Houston team collected an impressive 286 pounds of food for the Houston Food Bank, carefully assembling donations that provide balanced nutrition for families.

Their haul included over 130 cans of soup and chili, more than 100 cans of vegetables, 70-plus boxes and bags of pasta, rice, and mac and cheese, a full tote of dried fruit and juices, and 12 bottles of prenatal vitamins — essential nutrition for expectant mothers.

Dallas-Fort Worth: Meals That Matter

Teams across the Dallas-Fort Worth metro came together to donate 174 pounds of food to the North Texas Food Bank. These contributions translated into 145 meals for families facing food insecurity in North Texas.

The giving didn’t stop there. The Dallas team also kicked off a full month-long Season of Giving initiative that included toy drives benefiting Toys for Tots to help spread holiday joy throughout the community.

Orangeburg, New York: Community Connections

Our Orangeburg team gathered a diverse collection of food items and delivered them to the Church of the Ascension in New Milford, New Jersey.

By partnering with local faith organizations, the team provided donations to the families who need them the most. This collaboration demonstrates how data center teams or other organizations can take advantage of community networks to maximize their total impact.

A Commitment that Extends Beyond our Facilities

The success of our food drive reflects what we believe at DataBank: operating critical infrastructure comes with a responsibility to invest in the communities where we’re located. From supporting local food banks and children’s hospitals to partnering with volunteer fire departments and youth sports leagues, our teams look for meaningful ways to give back throughout the year.

This food drive is just one example of how DataBank employees engage with their neighbors. Our commitment to community partnership doesn’t end when the donations are delivered. It’s how we operate year-round. We’re proud of what our teams accomplished this fall, and we’re grateful to the organizations that work tirelessly to serve families in need. Together, we’re building stronger communities, one act of service at a time.