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9:14 a.m. May 4, 2016
Gerdau funds 5,695 meals for preschools kids
Steel recycler Gerdau celebrates its school year-long sponsorship of the Food for Kids program at Sam E. Hill Preschool on April 20, 2016, coordinated by Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee. During the school year, children are provided backpacks of healthful, kid-friendly fare to take home each weekend. Pictured from left: Gerdau representatives Gwen Reichel, Damien Rose, Ron Fritz, Steve Nash and Vice President and General Manager Johnny Miller; Second Harvest Food Bank donor relations coordinator Rachael Ellis; and Sam E. Hill Principal Wendy Laman and social worker Deanna Gnage.
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KNOXVILLE — Steel recycler Gerdau recently contributed funds to sponsor Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee’s Food for Kids program at Sam E. Hill Preschool in Lonsdale.
“Because of Gerdau, we can provide 5,695 meals to children in need by giving them backpacks filled with kid-friendly foods for an entire school year,” said Elaine Streno, executive director of Second Harvest. “In so many cases, our Food for Kids program is the only food some children will have over an entire weekend, while for others it provides a meal that would otherwise have been skipped.”
Backpacks come filled with healthful, kid-friendly fare for all three daily meals as well as snacks. Among the items included are instant breakfast, granola bars, cereal bars, oatmeal, peanut butter crackers, beef ravioli, spaghetti and meatballs, mixed veggie cups, macaroni and cheese, sunflower seeds, raisins, pudding cups, mandarin oranges, and even toothbrushes.
Gerdau Vice President and General Manager Johnny Miller said the company welcomes the opportunity to support the children of Lonsdale. This contribution covers the current school year.
“We are so excited for the opportunity to sponsor the Food for Kids program at Sam E. Hill Preschool,” Miller said. “In addition to providing much-needed food, the program offers children in difficult situations the comfort that comes from knowing there are people out there that truly care about them – something most kids take for granted, but something not all children get to experience.”
Schools participating in Food for Kids say that the program leads to improved self-esteem, behavior and concentration among the children.
The donation supports Gerdau’s robust social responsibility program that focuses on providing community support in the locations where it operates.
For more information about Gerdau, visit www.gerdau.com/northamerica.
Published May 4, 2016
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