Inspired Partner: Convoy of Hope
Convoy of Hope is an important partner that helps Hormel Foods carry out its hunger-relief mission
Inspired | Stories from Hormel Foods
By Kelly Braaten
At Hormel Foods, we are inspired to do our part in helping with hunger-relief efforts around the world. We have significant resources as a food company, but we understand we can’t do it alone. Working with our inspired partners such as Convoy of Hope, Feeding America, Food For The Poor and Caritas, we are able to make a difference every day.
We couldn’t be more excited to shine the spotlight on one of our inspired partners, Convoy of Hope, a fairly new relationship and an important partner that helps Hormel Foods carry out its hunger-relief mission.
Convoy of Hope
What They Do
Convoy of Hope was founded in 1994 by the Donaldson family. The inspiration for starting the organization can be traced back to the many people who helped the family after their father, Harold, was killed by a drunk driver in 1969. Today, more than 100 million people have been served throughout the world by Convoy of Hope. The organization works with churches, businesses, government agencies and other nonprofits to provide help and hope. With efforts that span the globe, the organization’s programs include community events, children’s feeding, disaster services, agriculture, women’s empowerment and rural compassion. In addition to Hormel Foods, Convoy of Hope works with TOMS, Plum Organics, Culligan, Home Depot, Walmart and many other businesses.
Hormel Foods joined forces with Convoy of Hope several years ago. In the beginning of the partnership, the company helped support events that provide groceries, haircuts, dental screenings and other services in at-need communities across the country. The partnership quickly expanded to include disaster-relief efforts.
In anticipation of hurricane season last year, Hormel Foods partnered with Convoy of Hope to help stock its warehouse with products such as SKIPPY® peanut butter, Stagg® chili, Hormel® premium chicken breast and SPAM® products that could be positioned and distributed for disaster-relief efforts. As a result, Convoy of Hope was able to respond to Hurricane Harvey in short order, distributing much-needed protein and other supplies immediately.
It has been a busy time for the organization, which also responded to the 2017 natural disasters in Florida, Puerto Rico, Mexico and California. To provide additional support, Hormel Foods subsidiaries Applegate Farms and CytoSport also donated products, and Hormel Foods provided a monetary donation. In total, thanks to these and other donations, Convoy of Hope and its volunteers distributed 10 million meals and served over 760,000 people who were impacted by the natural disasters.
Hormel Foods and Convoy of Hope also worked together to provide a special holiday meal for those affected by Hurricane Harvey. Hormel Foods donated over 700 Hormel® Cure 81® hams and Jennie-O Turkey Store donated over 700 turkeys for the event. Convoy of Hope helped prepare the meal and distributed the remainder of the hams and turkeys to attendees to take home and to churches in the area to help with their holiday meals.
“Getting donations from Hormel Foods and Jennie-O Turkey Store was huge because that meant we could bless that many more families with a holiday meal,” said Stacy Lamb, U.S. response director for Convoy of Hope. “We are very appreciative of Hormel Foods and Jennie-O Turkey Store for coming down and assisting with the meal.”
According to the Hormel Foods team that works with the organization to provide support and coordinate efforts, Convoy of Hope has been an excellent partner, always looking for new ways to help those in need. To date, Hormel Foods has focused its efforts on helping to support the organization’s community events and disaster services programs, but it is currently considering how to deepen the relationship and extend its helping hands.
When asked about the relationship with Hormel Foods, Bill Whitworth, Convoy of Hope’s procurement director, said, “I’ve had the great opportunity to work with Hormel Foods, and it has just been a wonderful experience. I was on calls with different Hormel Foods staff members, and I shared with them two descriptive terms about the Hormel relationship — one is ‘unique’ and the other is ‘special.’ There is just something very special about Hormel Foods. Their attitude and investment in the relationship make a difference, make a change, and it’s been wonderful.”
Convoy of Hope
Since 1994
- 100M + People Served
- 262M + Meals Served
- 600K + Volunteers Mobilized
- 115 Countries Served
- $805M + worth of food and supplies distributed
