Dot Foods doesn’t look the same as it did in 1960, so it only makes sense that our charitable efforts have also evolved over the years. One exciting evolution is the launch of a new program to support STEM (Science/Technology/Engineering/Math) education in schools in the Mt. Sterling, Illinois, area near our headquarters.
Focus on STEM provides professional development for educators and grants to local schools to build their STEM programs. Focus on STEM launched in May with an initial investment by Dot Charitable of $50,000 in grants and an interactive LEGO® session that trained teachers to bring computer science into their classes.
This month, Dot donated 3D printers to 13 area school districts and provided training to familiarize teachers with the equipment. Drones will be the subject of our next training session. Learning Technology Center of Illinois (LTC), a state agency that provides technology support to schools, is partnering with Dot Charitable to provide instruction. LTC recognized Dot with a Collaboration Award for our partnership on this program.
Dot plans to continue to expand the STEM program, so the charitable committees at our distribution centers can also support their local schools with these resources. Thank you to LTC, local educators, and Dot employees for making this program possible.
Here are other charitable activities our locations engaged in this month.
More locations held Neighbor to Neighbor deliveries to benefit area food pantries. Dot Foods Mt. Sterling donated $50,000 worth of product to 11 pantries. Dot Foods Bear, Dot Foods Burley, and Dot Foods Cambridge City also gifted several pantries with food and necessities.
Outside of Neighbor to Neighbor, we made additional donations to combat hunger during the holidays. Dot Foods Liverpool gave about $5,000 worth of product to the Salvation Army of Oswego County and PEACE, Inc. for their holiday food baskets. Dot Foods Bullhead City awarded the St. Vincent de Paul Society with a $5,000 grant for food and supplies. The Bear distribution center sorted and assembled more than 500 Thanksgiving food baskets for the Bullock Food Pantry.
Dot Foods University Park donated $7,500 to the It’s Okay Campaign, which supports the mental health of women of color.
Employees at Dot Foods Manchester laced up their walking shoes to participate in their local Walk to End Alzheimer’s.