From the warehouse workers loading cars at pantry pickups to the employees donating to the Alzheimer’s Association and United Way, Dot Foods can’t give back to our communities without our employees.
Thanks to our employees and charitable committee members across our locations, we’ve been able to donate almost $10.9 million worth of food since the beginning of the pandemic as well as other funds to incredible organizations.
But the year isn’t over yet—we still have some charitable activities and donations planned to close out 2020. If you know of a nonprofit or school near one of our locations that could use some help, apply for a grant here.
Food Donations
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To provide food for the holidays, we teamed up with the Central Illinois Foodbank twice to put together drive-thru food giveaways. In November, we were able to offer 500 cases of food for about 223 families. For the second giveaway in December, we donated 1,800 cases to 337 families.
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In honor of Veteran’s Day, we made a couple food donations to benefit veterans. We sent three truckloads of products to MDR Veterans Outreach in Louisiana and provided food to a giveaway in West Virginia hosted by AMVETS.
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Reelfoot Rural Ministries (RRM) is a Tennessee nonprofit that offers multiple services for the area, including a food pantry. Dot Foods Tennessee has donated nearly 28,000 pounds of excess food to their pantry this year to help RRM support residents during the pandemic.
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Dot Foods New York donated food to the local youth, contributing $2,500 worth of food to the Cicero Chill Bantam Youth Hockey league as well as almost $700 worth of food for an elementary school’s Thanksgiving baskets.
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Dot Foods Idaho helped residents get into the Thanksgiving spirit last month by donating turkeys to a local church and South Central Community Action.
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Our Idaho distribution center also provided over $250 worth of food to help students in need at the College of Southern Idaho.
Other Donations and Events
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A few of our locations have hosted blood drives this year. Dot Foods Mt. Sterling held seven for the Central Illinois Community Blood Center. Dot Foods Chicago hosted its very first on-site blood drive at the end of October for the Versiti Blood Center. On December 15, Dot Foods Arizona held its first on-site blood drive for Vitalant.
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Dot Foods Idaho donated $500 to a local motorcycle group that raises money to buy toys for the Mini-Cassia Christmas Council. The council has been delivering Christmas presents and food to families in need for almost four decades.
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We took up CASA of the Eastern Panhandle’s Superhero Challenge and became Champion Gold Medal Sponsors. The virtual fundraising challenge helped the organization provide court-appointed special advocates for children during abuse and neglect cases.
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For the fourth consecutive year, Dot Foods Maryland will participate in the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program. Angel Tree allows people to purchase holiday gifts for underprivileged children. Employees at our Maryland distribution center can reach out to their HR team for more details.
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Since students at a local elementary school are unable to use water fountains during the pandemic, Dot Foods Idaho donated water bottles to help keep kids hydrated.