In recognition of completing the fifth year of its On Our Way to Ending Hunger program, Hormel Foods Corp. announced that donations to hunger relief organizations totaled more than $5.2 million during fiscal year 2015.

The On Our Way to Ending Hunger program focuses on collaboration with retailers, nonprofit organizations and government agencies to address hunger relief, nourishing the hungry both domestically and internationally, as well as motivating individuals and corporate partners to take action against hunger.

“Through our On Our Way to Ending Hunger program, we are able to help those in need both domestically and abroad,” said Wendy A. Watkins, vice president of corporate communications at Hormel Foods. “Our employees are passionate about making an impact where they live and work by aiding local hunger relief organizations through our plant community donations program. In addition, we are proud of our Project SPAMMY^® efforts to help prevent malnutrition in children in Guatemala.”

Examples of some of the company’s fiscal 2015 On Our Way to Ending Hunger donations include:

• Hormel Foods donated $400,000 to local hunger relief organizations in 40 communities where it has manufacturing facilities. Each plant identified the organization(s) within its community to support. For example, the company’s Fremont (Neb.) Plant donated $10,000 to the Hope Center for Kids for its summer lunch program, and the company’s Beloit (Wis.) Plant donated $5,000 to the Beloit Salvation Army and $5,000 to Caritas of Beloit.
• Hormel Foods continued to help those in need during disaster situations, and donated more than 20,000 cans of Hormel Black Label canned luncheon meat to help those affected by Typhoon Soudelor. In addition, Hormel Foods donated one semi-trailer of Austin Market canned luncheon loaf and one semi-trailer load of Hormel Compleats microwave meals to help those affected by flooding in South Carolina.
• To help address childhood malnutrition in Guatemala, Hormel Foods donated 2.4 million cans of SPAMMY, a shelf-stable poultry product that is fortified with vitamins and minerals. Hormel Foods employees also participated in trips to Guatemala, engaging firsthand in Project SPAMMY.

Additional information about the company’s fiscal 2015 philanthropic efforts will be available in the Hormel Foods 2015 Corporate Responsibility Report, which will be released in June.

Source: Hormel Foods Corp.