Borg Warner Donates $10,000 to MANNA FoodBank
Posted 05/12/11
Asheville Citizen Times article about Borg Warner Donation
by Sandra Rodriguez
ASHEVILLE – A superb safety record in the workplace led to an unexpectedly generous but welcome donation by employees at BorgWarner Turbo Systems to MANNA FoodBank.
Employees from the manufacturing company increased their donation to MANNA from $5,000 to $10,000 after learning some startling facts about hunger in the community.
“We have a lot of workers in the plant, and we are all aware of individuals who are having a hard time, especially with higher gas prices and rising cost in food,” said Mary Burke, a member of the safety committee at the manufacturer. “So we are acutely aware of the need just from going to church, at work, in schools. It feels really good that we are able to donate to MANNA.”
The employees received the money from the company as a reward for providing a safe working environment with no injuries since 2006. The committee voted to help the food bank fight hunger in the mountains.
Although donations are always welcome, this one comes at an especially good time for MANNA since rising gas prices have seriously cut into its budget.
Fuel is a “big part” of the budget, said MANNA Executive Director Cynthia Threlkeld. Deliveries are made to food pantries throughout 16 Western North Carolina counties each week.
“We appreciate the combination,” she said. “They are not just coming with a check. They are coming to physically help pack the food and for their staff to understand better the issues related to hunger, especially childhood hunger.”
The setting was definitely different for the volunteers, who instead of assembling turbochargers, spent the morning filling and sealing more than 1,000 MANNA Packs for kids in almost two hours. The paper bags are filled with three days worth of food and feed up to 5,000 children each weekend during the school year.
“Right now, with fuel prices as high as they are, shortages are hitting a lot of homes that are unexpected, not necessarily the homeless or the poor – all walks of life,” said Kevin Newman. “I think the dollar will touch a lot more homes (through MANNA).”
