Reedsburg, WI (Oct. 4, 2024) – Midwest Food Products Association members banded together this week to collect and deliver shelf-stable food items to support Hurricane Helene relief efforts.
In one such effort, Riffey Transload and Lakeside Foods cooperated in the collection of 14,000 pounds of canned vegetables (12,240 individual cans), picked up at the Lakeside Foods warehouse in Poynette. In total, six Riffey Transload semi-trucks will leave Wisconsin Friday afternoon with bottled water, baby formula, diapers, medicine, rice, sleeping bags, gas-powered generators and other needed supplies, destined for North Carolina to reach hurricane victims over the weekend. Participating businesses included Newell Brands, Viking Village Foods, Sam’s Club, Costco, Vita Plus and Meister Forestry.
“It’s heartbreaking to see the devastation residents in North Carolina are facing, and we’re proud to do our part to help support relief efforts,” said Joe Yanda, president and CEO of Lakeside Foods.
Jason Culotta, president of MWFPA, said, “The greater food processing industry in the Midwest has a big heart. I’m grateful for the generosity of our member companies in their efforts to help relieve those left in the wake of Helene’s destruction.”
The MWFPA member collection was organized by Riffey Transload in cooperation with the Cornerstone Missionary Baptist Church in Reedsburg and Lighthouse Chapel in Richland Center. In addition to the companies above, many Reedsburg-area businesses, churches and individuals contributed to the effort with in-kind donations and financial support.
About Lakeside Foods, Inc.
Lakeside Foods is a premier supplier of high-quality frozen and canned foods to the retail, food service and industrial sectors. Since its beginning in 1887 as a small pea-canning plant, Lakeside Foods has expanded to 14 production facilities, producing canned and frozen vegetables, canned meat, smoked sausage and hot dogs, canned dry beans, frozen desserts, appetizers and canned pet food that are distributed in 14 countries. Lakeside Foods manages its vegetable growing and harvesting operations through a network of regional farmers, ensuring food quality and freshness from farm to table. The company is family owned and based in Manitowoc, Wis.
About Midwest Food Products Association
The Midwest Food Products Association, Inc. is a trade association that advocates on behalf of food processing companies and affiliated industries in Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. Established in 1905 as the Wisconsin Canners Association, today the association represents a more diverse group of food processors on a variety of food issues.
CONTACT:
Anne Smith, Lakeside Foods asmith@lakesidefoods.com 920-686-4032
Lauren Danuser, MWFPA, Lauren.Danuser@mwfpa.org, 608-255-9946
Wade Riffey, Riffey Transload, wade@riffeytransportllc.com, 608-479-1813
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