Spring 2021
Focus on Food Month Aims to Alleviate Childhood Hunger
For the month of May, the GSF Foundation launched its new “Focus on Food” initiative to support community food banks in their efforts to alleviate hunger. To help children and families struggling with food insecurity, local Foundation committees have the opportunity to make a grant to eligible 501(c)(3) food banks through an expedited process with matching national GSF Foundation donations up to $5,000 per local food bank grant.

“Hunger touches every community in America and beyond, and our associates continue to focus on feeding our most vulnerable neighbors in the communities where we live and work. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and the widespread economic hardship it caused, millions more people have struggled to put food on the table. In 2021, an estimated 42 million people—including more than 13 million children—in the U.S. may face hunger.”

– Tess McAnena, GSF Foundation Executive Director
 
As a leading supplier to the foodservice industry, GSF feeds 5 billion people worldwide every day. Associates across GSF’s food manufacturing and distribution businesses have a deep connection to fighting hunger. In fact, associates have donated nearly 1.2 million meals to vulnerable community members since 2002 when the GSF Foundation formed.
Volunteers Give 357 Hours of Service During First Quarter of 2021
Congratulations to the Foundation teams in Opelika, Alabama; Arkansas City, Kansas; and Charlotte, North Carolina for leading all local Foundation Committees in first quarter volunteer hours, achieving the following totals:

GSF Opelika (153 hours)
KanPak Kansas (89 hours)
QCD Charlotte (56.5 hours)
GSF Burleson Launches Foundation Committee
This spring, associates at GSF’s Liquid Products facility in Burleson, Texas officially launched the location’s GSF Foundation Committee to help improve the quality of life of local children and families. During initial meetings held on April 27, associates learned about opportunities to give back and get involved in core Foundation programs, including Back(pack) to School and Best Foot Forward. Additionally, the Burleson team plans to hold a summer food drive and support its local Ronald McDonald House.

“We are so excited to officially bring the GSF Foundation to Burleson. Our associates are so enthusiastic to get more involved in our community to make a positive impact for the kids around where we work and live.”

– Casey Araujo, GSF Foundation Burleson Chair and Senior Human Resources Manager, GSF Burleson
Can't Stop the "Partnership for Good" Support
Thank you to our unstoppable 2020 "Partnership for Good" supporters:

  • Aramark
  • Archer Daniel Midland (ADM)
  • Argos Capital Partners, LLC
  • Barcoding Inc.
  • Batory Foods
  • Bemis Company, Inc.
  • Craftsman
  • Dell
  • Gateway Industrial Power
  • IntelliTalk Inc.
  • Jackson Lewis
  • La Salle
  • Morning Star Packing
  • PNC
  • Pratt Industries
  • RSM
  • Sonoco
  • The Optimus Group
  • Truist Bank
  • US Bank
  • Wells Fargo Bank

GSF Foundation appreciates the generous support of our past and present partners that help us do more good in our communities.
Sharing Your Stories
The GSF Foundation team in Opelika, Alabama recently hopped into an "Every Bunny Counts" fundraiser that generated nearly $2,700 to benefit local children and families. Springing into action, the maintenance team sold more bunnies than any other department during this ear-resistible competition!
"Our Foundation held a departmental challenge. Our Maintenance Department won by selling the most bunnies, and we posted all 1,000-plus bunnies in our break room. They really do multiply!"

– Melissa Richardson, GSF Foundation Opelika Assistant Chair
Meet Gema Lopez
Gema Lopez, Senior Human Resources Representative for QCD Las Vegas, serves as the location's GSF Foundation Committee Chair and has been the longest-serving local Chair with more than a decade of continuous service leading the Las Vegas Foundation team! Here are five things to know about Gema:

  1. This year, Gema has been working with Project 150 to provide a Foundation grant toward the support and services the nonprofit provides to homeless, displaced, and disadvantaged high school students.
  2. Something most people may not know about Gema is that she loves comics, action figures, and Funko Pops!
  3. One of Gema’s personal goals for 2021 is buying a home for her family. As a mother of three, she's grateful for the opportunity to give her family a home of their own.
  4. A favorite quote of Gema’s comes from Dr. Seuss, who wrote "Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.”
  5. When she's not volunteering her time in the local community, Gema enjoys hiking, running, and watching Netflix!

Thank you, Gema, for your continued leadership and dedication to the GSF Foundation through the years!