The holidays are quickly approaching, and as people plan their festive meals, many others are not as fortunate. While hunger is a year-round concern, Food Bank of Northwest Indiana knows it’s especially difficult for people to be food insecure during the holidays. The organization works hard to fight hunger and relies on community involvement to achieve its goals.

Strack & Van Til is a premier partner of the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana and steps up annually to help those in need celebrate the holiday season with all the fixings for a hearty and delicious Christmas dinner.

According to Amy S. Briseño, vice president of Development & Communications for the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana, Strack & Van Til is providing 2,000 grocery kits for households in Lake and Porter Counties. Items donated by Strack’s include ham, gravy, macaroni and cheese, green beans, corn, pineapples and pie.

“I have my executive management team, every director from the office and store directors all participating in packing bags,” says Tom Steliga, Strack & Van Til Director of Center Store. “It’s a great cause.”

The groceries will be distributed via the Food Bank’s two core programs: Families who attend the Strack & Van Til-sponsored Hope for the Holidays Mobile Market distribution Dec. 21 (on distribution was held Dec. 15) and via Food Bank partner agencies, which are local food pantries in their network.

“Strack & Van Til’s annual donation of holiday meals heightens the impact of their incredible support. We are grateful to have such an involved Annual Premier Partner. They volunteer as a team regularly, including getting the food items they donate ready for distribution,” says Briseño. “The holiday meals they have donated reach neighbors who rely on emergency food assistance for regular groceries.”

Giving back to the communities in which they operate is not only part of Strack & Van Til’s mission, but Steliga says it’s also something management and employees are passionate about.

“We’re a community store, a community chain,” he says. “Giving back to the community is simply part of Strack & Van Til’s nature. It is part of our company’s mission.  It is very important to us to be able to do this.”

The grocery chain’s kindness is not lost on Briseño and the Food Bank.

“The importance of this special meal to provide fellowship during the holidays is not to be understated. As many enjoy the bounty of holiday feasts, knowing that our local grocer is part of making the experience possible for so many in our community inspires us all at the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana,” she notes. “We lean into the care and generosity of our committed partners to make the work possible. The charitable food sector is a mix of sourcing and support, and we are no different. Strack & Van Til giving these items brightens the holidays all around.”