Social Purpose Spotlight

In NAFEM’s monthly Social Purpose Spotlight, one member company’s social purpose story is featured. Perhaps reading about the creativity and dedication of fellow NAFEM members will inspire you to start a program at your organization or provide some new ideas to enhance what you’re already doing.

This month, we talked to Terry Puerzer, director of marketing, TableCraft Products, Gurnee, Ill. TableCraft has donated to the Northern Illinois Food Bank and participated in a local Toys for Tots program for more than 10 years. “Partnering with NAFEM to help elevate our social purpose goals made perfect sense,” says Puerzer. “Knowing that our support was being doubled by NAFEM gave even more meaning to the contributions we made.”

TableCraft has an internal committee that meets monthly to schedule current initiatives and to discuss potential new outreach. Puerzer continues, “We routinely ask the entire TableCraft team for organizations that are important to them, which gives us the opportunity to support our employees in a variety of causes.”

Over the years, TableCraft has sponsored a coat drive for Women & Children’s Horizons, which provides support, shelter, education, training and healing services to victims of domestic abuse. For the Warren Township Food Pantry, which is also located in Gurnee, Ill., TableCraft regularly donates kitchen products. They also donate products to CCAP, in Chicago and nationally, and some employees volunteer their time to support the participating students’ scholarship judging.

Most recently, 14 TableCraft team members went to a local Feed My Starving Children (FMSC) site and helped fill 108 boxes of food, equivalent to 23,328 meals, to assist in reversing and preventing undernutrition.  Each day FMSC partners distribute these meals in schools, orphanages, clinics and feeding programs around the world to deliver hope and break the cycle of poverty.

“It’s apparent that volunteering in these activities creates a sense of pride and personal enrichment among our employees, Puerzer adds. Group initiatives give coworkers a chance to work together toward a common goal and create a shared experience.”

If your organization is considering a social purpose initiative Puerzer suggests, “Reach out and speak with a representative at the food bank. We were able to provide several smallwares that were needed at our local food bank. And we learned that can openers are always the number one requested non-food item because we had a conversation with the pantry!”

NAFEM’s Social Purpose program, #NAFEMFightingHunger, launched its sixth year in March. Since 2020, NAFEM members have donated more than 43 million meals to neighbors in need. When members donate funds, food or volunteer time to their local Feeding America member food banks or any local food bank, NAFEM contributes matching funds.

For ideas to start or enhance your company’s efforts, visit #NAFEMFightingHunger. If you have questions or would like to be featured in a future Social Purpose Spotlight, contact NAFEM Headquarters, +1.312.821.0201.