WILLMAR -- Jennie-O Turkey Store plants in Willmar donated $10,000 to fight hunger in the Willmar community.
"On behalf of the Willmar plants, we are proud to help the United Way of West Central Minnesota's Growmobile Program continue to fight hunger in Willmar," said Jim Schammel, plant manager at the Willmar Avenue Plant, in a news release.
The Growmobile program is designed to prepare children for school. As part of its summer outreach program, families also receive a backpack full of food to feed a family of four over the weekend, and the backpack is refilled throughout the summer.
"Hormel Foods and our employees here in Willmar are committed to helping local families in need and making a difference in our community," Schammel said.
Jennie-O Turkey Store is a subsidiary of Hormel Foods Corporation. Hormel also announced it donated turkey products to Duluth flood victims.
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The flooding in northern Minnesota and Wisconsin has left many people homeless and devastated. Jennie-O Turkey Store is partnering with Ruby's Pantry, a food distribution agency, to distribute to families in need. The donation included a variety of items, totaling more than 3,000 pounds at a retail value totaling $17,643.
"Jennie-O Turkey Store's contribution program places emphasis on supporting food shelves to help fight hunger, but also recognizes the need when disasters strike. We are very pleased to offer this assistance to help these flood victims," said Pat Solheid, vice president of human resources and administration.
The donation of $10,000 in Willmar is part of Hormel's ongoing donations to fight hunger in the communities where it operates.
During 2011, the company donated funds to more than a dozen U.S. manufacturing facilities to share with nonprofits in their respective communities. In 2012, the program is expanding to more than 20 communities in which Hormel Foods and its subsidiaries operate processing facilities.
"We are thrilled about the positive impact we were able to make in 2011 in the communities where we live and work, and we are equally as excited about the growth of the program in 2012," said Julie H. Craven, vice president of corporate communications at Hormel Foods.
