SPRINGFIELD, Mass., Dec. 04, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Carando, the artisans of Classic Italian Meats, teamed with long-time food service customer Fazoli’s by donating 800 holiday hams in support of Feed the Children and the St. Louis Dream Center as they celebrated St. Louis-area military families.
The event hosted a total of 800 military and civilian families who received food and essentials that filled two semitrucks at the O’Fallon Rec Center in St. Louis as part of Feed the Children’s Homefront Harvest Initiative. The Homefront Harvest Initiative included seven feeding events throughout the county in honor of military families and their service to our country.
“Our friends at Fazoli’s brought Feed the Children’s Homefront Harvest Initiative to our attention and we immediately wanted to be a part of this community event,” said Dan Incaudo, General Manager, Carando. “We at Carando were extremely humbled to be able to help so many families in need as part of this initiative.”
Carando’s support of the event was made as part of the Carando Cares program, an ongoing campaign established in 2013 to support organizations making a positive difference in local communities. Carando Cares has already made more than $250,000 in monetary and in-kind donations since the program’s inception.
At the event in St. Louis, pre-identified families received a 25-pound box of food that included one Carando holiday ham; a 10-pound box of much-needed essentials like shampoo, conditioner, lotion, and personal-care items; an Avon box with assorted Avon products provided by Fazoli's and coats from Soles4Souls.
“Fazoli’s is a popular place for families. So, it’s really rewarding to be able to help other families in need—especially right here in St. Louis,” said Fazoli’s CEO Carl Howard.
“The St. Louis Dream Center exists to lead people to know God, find freedom, discover their purpose, and make a difference,” said Jeremy Pickens, Director of Food Ministries and Special Events. “Through this event we sought to make a difference in the St. Louis area by providing much-needed help and support for the less fortunate.”
“Together we provided food and essentials, as well as a message of appreciation to these families,” said Travis Arnold, Feed the Children Interim CEO/President and COO. “Feed the Children is proud to partner with Carando through Fazoli’s and the St. Louis Dream Center in an effort to honor those who serve our country.”
For more information about Carando and Carando Cares, please visit www.carando.com or www.Facebook.com/CarandoMeats.
Carando is a brand of Smithfield Foods.
About Carando
All of our classic Italian meats stay true to the traditional recipes that our founder, Pietro Carando, brought to America from his boyhood home in Torino, Italy. One taste is all it takes to discover the authentic Italian difference of Carando. For more information, visit www.carando.com.
Smithfield Foods
Smithfield Foods is a $15 billion global food company and the world's largest pork processor and hog producer. In the United States, the company is also the leader in numerous packaged meats categories with popular brands including Smithfield®, Eckrich®, Farmland®, Armour®, Cook's®, John Morrell®, Gwaltney®, Nathan's Famous®, Kretschmar®, Margherita®, Curly's®, Carando® and Healthy Ones®. Smithfield Foods is committed to providing good food in a responsible way and maintains robust animal care, community involvement, employee safety, environmental and food safety and quality programs. For more information, visit www.smithfieldfoods.com.
About Feed the Children
Feed the Children believes that it can create a world where no child goes to bed hungry. Since 1979, Feed the Children has grown into one of the largest U.S.-based charities. It is accredited by GuideStar Exchange and the BBB Wise Giving Alliance, maintains a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, and is also a member of InterAction. Through its network of agencies, Feed the Children distributed more than $344 million in food, essentials, educational supplies, and medicine, impacting close to 9 million individuals in the U.S. and more than 4.9 million individuals internationally, for a total of 13.9 million individuals globally in fiscal year 2014. Visit www.feedthechildren.org for more information.
About Fazoli’s
With approximately 220 restaurants, Fazoli’s is America’s largest Italian fast-casual chain, serving freshly prepared entrees, Submarinos® sandwiches, salads and pizza. One of the New York Post’s five breakout fast-casual restaurants and a Fast Casual.com Brand of the Year, Fazoli’s franchisees are experiencing record sales growth. Visit www.ownafazolis.com for details on development opportunities, including new operator incentives.
About the St. Louis Dream Center
An outreach arm of Joyce Meyer Ministries, the St. Louis Dream Center was founded in 2000 by Dave and Joyce Meyer to be a healing place for a hurting world. With over 30 outreaches and ministries conducted each year, the Dream Center reaches thousands of disadvantaged children and families in St. Louis, impacting their neighborhoods and quality of life. The Dream Center provides meals to the hungry and assists the homeless. Staff and volunteers make visits to area homes and nursing and retirement communities, offering prayer, gifts, companionship, and comfort. For more information, please visit www.stldreamcenter.org.