Celebrating the "Giving" of Thanksgiving

PITTSFIELD, IL (November 20, 2017) — The Maschhoffs’ Stakeholder Experience Team out of Pittsfield, IL, recently collected over 1,000 pounds of non-perishable food donations to benefit local families in need through The Crossing in Pike County and the Cass County Food Bank.

“The Stakeholder Experience Team was created to help The Maschhoffs better connect with local communities through employees and to identify team-building opportunities,” Animal Caregiver for The Maschhoffs Rachel Tate says. “We want to support the organizations and causes that are important to our employees. When a team member suggested this project, we knew it was something that would rally support.”

A healthy competition among eight farms in Pike and Schuyler counties in Illinois and Van Buren County in Iowa garnered donations over a two-week period to see which farm could donate the most food. Once the two-week collection period was over, all donations were compiled and weighed. 

“This food drive was a fun way to bring our teams together across our region while giving back to our communities,” Julie Mountain, Production Office Assistant for The Maschhoffs adds. “We wanted to ensure local families have food on their tables as the holidays approach. After all – food, family and giving back are what these holidays are all about.” 

One farm, with the help of La Esquina de Oro in Beardstown, IL, donated over 400 pounds to the effort to bring the total food donation to 1,053 pounds. 

“I’m really proud of my team for pulling together and donating over 400 pounds of food,” says Ana Andrade, who organized the donation effort for the farm that donated the most food. “Hopefully our efforts can make a difference for families in need.” 

PICTURE CAPTION: Eight members of the Stakeholder Experience Team gathered to collect and weigh donations. From left: Rachel Tate, Patrick Gratton, Julie Mountain, Taylor Johnson, Allison Fitzgerald, Ana Andrade, Ricardo Bautista and Arely Sanchez.