MEAT+POULTRY - January 2025 - 88

GIVING BACK
Hormel Foods
Hormel Foods Corp. donated two semitrucks
full of whole frozen turkeys to the
Mower County Fairgrounds in Austin,
Minn., on Nov. 16. Over the course of
the day, the company - together with
partners at the Hometown Food Security
Project, local nonprofits and more than
250 volunteers - delivered 3,500 Jennie-O
turkeys to local community members.
Hormel Foods donated an additional
1,500 turkeys to various food shelves
throughout Mower County, bringing the
one-day donation total to 5,000 birds - the
equivalent of over 90,000 meals.
This first-of-its-kind event in Austin
brought Hormel closer to its goal of
providing the equivalent of 70 million
meals by 2030. Hormel is also working
to create a food secure community
program through its partnership with the
Wayne-Sanderson
In support of local firefighters from Jones
County's M&M Volunteer Fire Department
in Mississippi, Wayne-Sanderson Farms
donated a specially outfitted Ford F-350
truck to replace the department's current
aging rescue vehicle.
The fire department handles more than
300 emergency calls each year and was
facing the purchase of a new rescue truck
without having the funds to afford new
emergency equipment - a need WayneSanderson
saw and stepped in to fulfill.
The donation was decided upon after
Wayne-Sanderson employee Ben Hughes,
who also serves as an M&M volunteer
firefighter, approached local company
officials with the fire department's
dilemma. Kevin Butler, Wayne-Sanderson
Farms fleet manager, proceeded to hand
over the keys to the upgraded rescue
88 MEAT+POULTRY | 01.25 | www.meatpoultry.com
Hometown Food Security Project, an effort
aimed at reducing food insecurity rates in
both Mower County and around the world.
" We're here to give, " said Jeff Baker,
group vice president of retail marketing
at Hormel Foods. " Ours is a company
that cares deeply about combating food
insecurity, and we recognize that there's a
serious need here in Mower County. We're
here to help ensure that the people living
in our community have full tables and full
hearts this holiday season. "
After the mile-long line at the
fairgrounds started moving at 9 a.m.,
vehicles flowed steadily over the next five
hours, carrying out more than 70,000 lbs of
Jennie-O turkey. Early arrivers were also
treated to a surprise offering of Hormel
Black Label Oven Ready Thick Cut Bacon
while supplies lasted.
Zoe's Meats
Zoe's Meats, an artisan cured
meat company, donated over
12,000 lbs of nitrite-free,
fully cooked turkey breasts,
smoked hams and bacon to
the Redwood Empire Food
Bank (REFB) during the
Thanksgiving season. The
donation included more than
2,500 packages of bacon,
which were distributed
through the REFB
marketplace for pickup.
Additionally, the deli
meats have been shared
with over 40 community
agency partners in Sonoma
County, Calif., benefiting
more than 3,500 families.
Zoe's Meats' donation
will provide the
vehicle to M&M Fire Chief Steven Ishee.
Ishee is both a department volunteer and
a local farmer and grower with WayneSanderson
Farms.
" The money we were going to have
to spend on a new truck can now go
for turnout gear for our firefighters,
rescue equipment for victims and other
department needs, " Ishee said.
The F350 will be painted and outfitted
with fire and rescue equipment, including
a tool-bed body, skid unit, firefighting tools
and other rescue gear.
" It will have a profound impact on the
department and the county's ability to
provide services to our community, " said
council spokeswoman Dana Bumgardner.
" This gift reflects Wayne-Sanderson Farms'
dedication to and unwavering support for
the well-being of our community. "
protein contribution to
approximately 48,000 meals,
with many REFB partners
using these products to
prepare nutritious and
delicious meals for those
households in need.
" We are thrilled to
support the Redwood
Empire Food Bank
and contribute to their
incredible efforts in fighting
hunger in our community, "
said George Gavros,
founder of Zoe's Meats.
" Our donation reflects our
commitment to philanthropy
and ensuring that everyone
has access to high-quality,
nutritious food. "
REFB has distributed the
donated meats to various
programs and partner
organizations, reaching
thousands of individuals
and families in need of food
assistance. This donation
comes at a crucial time, as
many households continue
to face food insecurity, Zoe's
Meats noted.
Hormel Foods Corp.
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MEAT+POULTRY - January 2025

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