Empowering Students to Fight Food Insecurity: Hormel Foods' Nourishing Champions Initiative

In a remarkable display of community collaboration, Hormel Foods has partnered with the United Way of Mower County and The Hometown Food Security Project to tackle the pressing issue of food insecurity in Austin, Minnesota. Through the "Nourishing Champions" food-packing event, the company has engaged over 1,500 high school students to assemble 24,000 MATTERbox Snack Packs, equating to 9,000 pounds of food. This initiative not only nourishes the students themselves but also supports the school's food pantry and local food shelves, making a tangible impact on the community's well-being.

Empowering the Next Generation to Fight Hunger

Fostering a Spirit of Community and Volunteerism

The Nourishing Champions event has been a resounding success, with students from Austin High School coming together during Homecoming week to pack the MATTERbox Snack Packs. This initiative has not only provided essential nutrition to their peers but has also fostered a spirit of community and volunteerism among the students. "I'm proud of our students for coming together during Homecoming week to pack MATTERbox Snack Packs, providing support for their peers beyond the classroom," said Dr. Joey Page, Austin Public Schools superintendent. "This initiative provides essential nutrition and helped foster a spirit of community and volunteerism among our students. We're thankful for the opportunity to work together and make a positive impact."

Empowering Students as Future Leaders

Hormel Foods recognizes the importance of engaging the next generation in the fight against food insecurity. "These students are our future leaders, entrepreneurs and colleagues," said Jim Snee, chairman of the board, president and chief executive officer at Hormel Foods. "It's important that they are part of our journey toward building a stronger, food-secure community. Through these opportunities, they're making a real, lasting impact."

Fostering Awareness and Meaningful Discussions

The Nourishing Champions event follows the successful "A Work of Art" collaboration in the spring, which brought together community leaders and students to foster awareness of and meaningful discussions about solutions to food insecurity. "This was an amazing event that helped our students understand the importance of giving back to others and gained an understanding of food-security efforts," said Emily Hovland, Austin High School student council advisor. "Our students were beyond excited to participate in the Nourishing Champions event that will directly impact our community."

Addressing the Intersection of Education and Food Security

Hormel Foods' commitment to improving food security in Austin, Minnesota, extends beyond the Nourishing Champions event. The company recognizes the importance of addressing the intersection of education and food security, as evidenced by its support for the school's food pantry and the distribution of the assembled snack packs to local food shelves. "This event is a continuation of that work, connecting the issues of education and food security, and showcasing how they can intersect to address critical community issues," said Snee.

Driving Measurable Impact through Partnerships

Hormel Foods' global impact strategy and ongoing commitment to give back have resulted in significant contributions to the community. In 2023, the company contributed $12.5 million in monetary and product donations, with $10 million dedicated to food-security efforts, equivalent to 9.2 million individual meals. The Nourishing Champions packing event is a testament to Hormel Foods' dedication to delivering on its 20 By 30 Challenge goals of providing 70 million meals and creating a food-secure community program by 2030.