Dot Foods is announcing an all-new philanthropic program --- Dot Foods Neighbor-to-Neighbor Food Bank Program --- to benefit Feeding America food banks in ten communities across the nation. Dot Foods' Neighbor to Neighbor Program will give $462,500 to these food banks, helping to provide an estimated 4,162,500 nutritious meals* in 2014. It is the largest donation in Dot Foods' history.
"We are thankful to Dot Foods for helping to provide meals to hungry Americans," said Ross Fraser from Feeding America. "With one in six Americans facing hunger, donations like this are vital."
Dot Foods Chairman Pat Tracy made the announcement.
"Because food is our core business, providing charitable support in that area is a natural for us," said Pat Tracy, Chairman of the Board of Dot Foods. "We have provided product to food banks over the years, and have established grant programs and volunteer programs with food pantries. We're now taking those efforts to the next level with our Neighbor-to-Neighbor Program. This gives us a way to make an impact, beyond the monetary amounts, to Feeding America food banks that provide food to the pantries near our facilities and in the communities where our employees have built their lives."
Dot Foods strives to be a good neighbor, often doing charitable work in the cities where it operates distribution centers across the nation. The Neighbor-to-Neighbor program kicks off with donations of $50,000 each to a food bank in eight cities: River Bend Food Bank in Moline, IL; Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana in Indianapolis, IN; Food Bank of Central New York in Syracuse, NY; Maryland Food Bank - Western Branch in Hagerstown, MD; America's Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia in Savannah, GA; Idaho Food Bank in Boise, ID; Regional Food Bank in Oklahoma City, OK; and Second Harvest Food Bank of San Joaquin and Stanislaus Counties in Manteca, CA. Dot will also donate $12,500 to St. Louis Area Food Bank in St. Louis, where the company's sales office is located, and $50,000 to a food bank near Dyersburg, Tennessee - site of the company's newest distribution center opening later this year.
The company chose these 10 food banks because they serve multiple food pantries, soup kitchens, and daycares in cities and towns where Dot Foods' employees live and work. As part of the program, Dot Foods' is inviting each food bank to participate in a program by which they can order from Dot's discounted product list. By doing this, each food bank will become a customer of Dot Foods and will have the opportunity to use their donation to order food directly from Dot, each according to their own needs. The program will provide the food banks the opportunity to get more food for their grant dollar than they could otherwise
"Our Neighbor-to-Neighbor program will allow our partner food banks to identify their own food and nutritional needs - proteins, produce, grains, etc. - and use this grant to fill in their donation gaps to feed hungry residents and families," Tracy continued. "We have seen first-hand how these kinds of programs can change and inspire a community and we are excited to give back to the hard-working Dot Foods communities across the country."
Participating food banks will work with Dot Foods to identify the types of products it most needs. Food banks are encouraged to use the grant in 2014 and may receive up to one delivery each calendar quarter. The program is designed to increase offerings for each recipient food bank.
*Feeding America estimates $1 equals nine meals secured and distributed by Feeding America on behalf of local food banks.