MT. STERLING, Ill. – Dot Foods, Inc. recognized two employees for their dedication to giving back to their community at its Volunteer of the Year Awards ceremony. Parcel Lead Josh Stuckman of Golden, Illinois, was honored for contributions in 2020 and Senior Systems Support Manager Greg Spohr of Quincy, Illinois, was honored for 2021.
The Volunteer of the Year Award ceremony is part of Dot Foods’ Teaming with Local Charities (TLC), a key program in the company’s charitable initiative. The award is based on the consistency in which each honoree has incorporated volunteerism, number of years and hours volunteered, engagement outside of TLC or with multiple programs, and proven success sharing the volunteer spirit.
“Volunteerism is part of Dot’s culture,” said Jessica Mock, director of the TLC program. “The TLC program organizes volunteers for local food pantries, numerous community organizations, schools, and much more. We were thrilled to bring our Volunteer of the Year celebration back after a two-year COVID hiatus, because we love recognizing the great contributions our colleagues are making in our communities. Honoring our Volunteers of the Year also allows us to shine the spotlight on and provide additional support for the organizations they are so passionate about.”
As part of the program, Dot awarded Stuckman and Sphor each a $1,000 donation to the charity of their choice. Both winners elected to donate to the Meals on Wheels program in Quincy, Illinois. Dot will also send them on a celebratory vacation at RT’s Cove, Dot Foods’ private resort in Osage Beach, Missouri.
Stuckman has worked at Dot for nine years, accruing 542 volunteer hours during that time. He volunteers extensively with Meals on Wheels in Quincy, Illinois, and has a dedicated food delivery route each week. He also helps at Central High School in Golden, Illinois, area food pantries, and does the shopping for Horizons Food Pantry and Soup Kitchen in Quincy, Illinois. Stuckman serves on the volunteer board for the library in Golden, Illinois, and volunteers for the town’s Golden Friends, which helps with work around town that the city doesn’t have resources to cover.
“Josh is a very deserving candidate,” said Dave McNeff, parcel supervisor and Stuckman’s manager. “He is passionate about the activities he helps with and makes them a priority each week. He’s also a wonderful ambassador for the TLC program at Dot for those employees who have questions about getting involved.”
Spohr, who has worked at Dot for 21 years, started volunteering heavily about 10 years ago and, like Stuckman, has a weekly route for Meals on Wheels. In addition, he tutors and helps in the classrooms at area elementary schools and volunteers at the YMCA, the Salvation Army, and area food pantries. Spohr volunteered 116 hours in 2021 and an impressive 424 hours since joining the TLC program 10 years ago.
“I was not surprised at all to hear Greg was being honored as Volunteer of the Year,” said Mark Read, senior director of IT and Spohr’s manager at Dot. “Greg has always been active with the community and TLC. He is passionate about helping others, including his team at Dot, where he is always willing to go the extra mile.”
Overall, more than 180 Dot Foods employees from the Mt. Sterling, Illinois, location, along with those in St. Louis, Missouri, Burley, Idaho, and Ardmore, Oklahoma, volunteered for a combined 2,705 hours in 2020 and 2,865 hours in 2021 as part of the TLC program. In addition, employees donated nearly $25,400 to local charity organizations via an employee incentives program in 2021.
The Mt. Sterling TLC group reaches into 11 West Central Illinois counties to volunteer with 40 organizations including the Central Illinois Food Bank, the YMCA, the United Way, the Area Agency on Aging, as well as many local schools and community leadership programs.
At the award ceremony, Dot Foods recognized 18 other 2020 and 2021 Volunteer of the Year finalists and awarded a $250 donation to each to be given to the charity of their choice. A panel interviewed each finalist to learn more about their motivation to volunteer, level of involvement at charitable groups, and dedication to inspiring others to give back.
The other Volunteer of the Year finalists are: Lora Decker, Vanessa Markert, David Koch, Paula Burge, Austin Beard, Aaron Akins, Daphne Ingles, Melanie Geisendorfer, Timothy Crumrine, Stacy Volk, Michelle Bedenbender, James Mass, Amber Elliot, and Tana Parsano.
About Dot Foods and Dot Transportation
Dot Foods, Inc. carries 125,000 products from 1,000 food industry manufacturers making it the largest food industry redistributor in North America. Through Dot Transportation, Inc., an affiliate of Dot Foods, the company distributes foodservice, convenience, retail, and vending products to distributors in all 50 states and more than 55 countries. Dot Foods operates 12 U. S. distribution centers, which are located in Bullhead City, Arizona; Modesto, California; Bear, Delaware; Vidalia, Georgia; Burley, Idaho; Mt. Sterling, Illinois; University Park, Illinois; Cambridge City, Indiana; Williamsport, Maryland; Liverpool, New York; Ardmore, Oklahoma; and Dyersburg, Tennessee. Dot Foods’ Canadian operations are located in Toronto, Ontario and Calgary, Alberta. For information, visit DotFoods.com.
Dot Foods and Dot Transportation are both looking to fill several positions for full and part-time drivers and warehouse personnel at all U.S. locations. To learn more about careers at Dot Foods visit DotFoodsCareers.com and follow @DotFoodsCareers. For more on opportunities available with Dot Transportation, visit DriveForDTI.com.