Social Purpose Spotlight

In NAFEM’s bimonthly 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 Megan Keiswetter, director of marketing & e-commerce, New Age Industrial Corp., Norton, Kansas. New Age Industrial has been supporting their local community for decades. Keiswetter explains, “Being part of the supermarket and commercial foodservice equipment industries means our work naturally connects to feeding people.” The company is family owned and has been part of the Norton community for 60 years; caring for neighbors is at the heart of the organization’s culture.

NAFEM’s Social Purpose program is a win-win for New Age Industrial, “it allows us to stand alongside our national industry peers to showcase how local, rural manufacturers can make a difference in their home communities, while giving extra visibility to rural food insecurity,” adds Keiswetter. In the small community of Norton, Kansas, there are two primary organizations that New Age Industrial supports, God’s Pantry and the Norton Kids’ Café. God’s Pantry is dedicated to addressing food insecurity by providing essential food assistance to individuals and families in need. The Norton Kids’ Café provides support during the summer months, when kids aren’t in school, by providing nutritious five-day meal kits.

New Age provides both organizations with specialized transport and storage equipment including shelving, mobile carts and trucks to help streamline daily meal prep and service. In addition, team members volunteer for distribution days on a regular basis. “Over time, we’ve seen an increased reliance on programs like the Kids’ Café to fill summer food gaps for local students, making active involvement and equipment support essential,” explains Keiswetter.

New Age Industrial doesn’t have a formal internal committee for social purpose initiatives because team members are already engaged throughout the community via coaching youth sports, running concession stands, serving on school councils, booster clubs and local boards and judging 4-H competitions. Because associates are so community minded, “when a request comes in for volunteers to distribute meals through Norton Kids’ Café, our team steps up to fill those slots immediately,” says Keiswetter. The spirit of giving back creates pride and cohesion within the company and from the outside, New Age Industrial is regarded as a neighbor who truly cares and shows up for Norton.

And when a devastating plant fire destroyed most of the New Age factory in 1996, the community immediately pitched in, and thanks to everyone’s help, the factory was operational again in five short weeks. To show their gratitude, New Age presented a $400 check to each employee, redeemable only at local Norton businesses, injecting $40,000+ directly back into the community. Keiswetter sums it up, “we give back today because this community stood by us when we needed it most; caring for our neighbors will always be at the heart of who we are.”

If your organization is considering a social purpose initiative Keiswetter suggests, “start by calling your local program leaders directly; their needs might be very specific. Then, actively encourage your team to get involved and fully support them when they do.”

NAFEM’s Social Purpose program, #NAFEMFightingHunger, launched its seventh year in March. Since 2020, NAFEM members have donated more than 50 million meals to neighbors in need. When members donate funds, food, equipment & supplies 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.