Advantage Truck Group Celebrates 10 Years of Haulin’ 4 Hunger
By Joan DeCoste, Public Relations & Communications
In Worcester and across New England, Advantage Truck Group is giving back to the communities it calls home through Haulin’ 4 Hunger. This year marks the 10-year anniversary of Haulin’ 4 Hunger, ATG’s signature food donation program that helps provide meals to people facing hunger in communities near ATG locations throughout New England. From its start in 2012 with a single donation of 200-holiday meals near ATG Shrewsbury, over the years Haulin’ 4 Hunger has grown to reach food pantry organizations in more communities and increased its impact with quarterly donations of nonperishable food to help meet the ongoing need. In celebration of its commitment to making a difference in its local communities, this year Haulin’ 4 Hunger is increasing donations to provide over 4,000 fresh holiday meals in December to food pantry organizations in Worcester and other Central Massachusetts communities, and continuing to donate thousands of nonperishable foods each quarter to hunger-relief organizations near other ATG locations. Its fourth quarter donation of nonperishable meals will be made in December.
Now in its tenth year, Haulin’ 4 Hunger will reach over 30,000 meals donated to community food pantry organizations across three states.“We are grateful for the continued support that our employees, customers, and business partners have for this program,” says Kevin G. Holmes, President, and CEO of ATG. “While serving our customers is our most important mission, serving our communities truly defines who we are. As we celebrate 10 years of Haulin’ 4 Hunger, ATG’s commitment to fighting hunger and reducing food insecurity in our communities remains more important than ever.” And there is no time more important than now. Here in Massachusetts, a recent study shows a third of all people experienced food insecurity at some point last year. And as food prices continue to rise alongside inflation, more people than ever are turning to food pantries for help.
Helping Make Holidays Hunger-free
The holidays are especially difficult for so many families and others struggling to put food on their table, and many look to food pantries for help. While every donation makes a difference to the food pantries and the people they serve, it’s the nutritious fresh foods that are among the most requested and also the most expensive. These foods are not only the hardest to afford on a limited budget but are often in short supply at local pantries. For ten years, ATG has been helping food pantry organizations in Central Massachusetts provide fresh meals during the holiday season through Haulin’ 4 Hunger.
On December 15, ATG and its Haulin’ 4 Hunger team of employees and business partners will lead two separate caravans of cars and trucks throughout the city of Worcester and nearby communities to hand deliver over 4,000 fresh holiday meals of turkey with all of the trimmings. The fresh meals will be brought to eight organizations offering food pantries and other support services, including the Worcester-based Abby’s House, Friendly House, Jeremiah’s Inn and Food Pantry, South Worcester Neighborhood Center and Veterans, Inc., as well as the Marlborough Community Cupboard and St. Anne’s Human Services of Shrewsbury.
“Each of the organizations we support through Haulin’ 4 Hunger are working to ensure those facing hardships have enough food to eat during the holidays and every day, and we are honored to help them in this critical effort,” says Holmes. ATG is also fortunate to partner with companies who share their commitment to giving back to their communities, and who support efforts to make a difference in the fight against hunger. Haulin’ 4 Hunger is made possible by the dedication and ongoing support from organizations such as Dennis K. Burke, G. Lopes Construction, Worcester Railers, SelecTrucks of New England and UniBank. This year, Haulin’ 4 Hunger is also being supported by new sponsors Boyle Transportation and Table Talk Pies. Many Haulin’ 4 Hunger partners, including the Worcester Railers, join in the delivery of the fresh holiday meals each December, and the Worcester Railers also bring their equipment van to help transport the thousands of meals to Worcester food pantries. “As a community-first organization, the Worcester Railers are committed to giving back to the Greater Worcester region. We are proud to partner with Advantage Truck Group to support Haulin’ 4 Hunger and help address food insecurity in our communities,” says Stephanie Ramey, President of the Worcester Railers Hockey Club.
Doing Good in More Communities
Every community is home to families who face hunger.
Since ATG and its employees founded Haulin’ 4 Hunger ten years ago, the company has grown from its single location in Shrewsbury to a network of dealers with eight locations in communities across Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont. As ATG continues to expand its network, it remains committed to supporting access to food and bringing Haulin’ 4 Hunger to every area where it operates. At the heart of this commitment are ATG employees, who come together to make donations and volunteer to help make a difference for those in their communities struggling with hunger.
Over the past two years, the number of people facing hunger was unprecedented. As Covid-19 spread in 2020, ATG responded to the needs of its customers and communities. Together with the support of its employees and business partners, ATG doubled its commitment to fight food insecurity through Haulin’ 4 Hunger to increase donations and expand support to more food pantry organizations. Last year, in addition to the donation of fresh meals near its Shrewsbury location, ATG expanded Haulin’ 4 Hunger to include quarterly donations of nonperishable foods to provide year-round support to local food pantries in communities near ATG locations in Raynham and Westfield, Massachusetts, and throughout New Hampshire and Vermont.
“Over the past ten years, Haulin’ 4 Hunger has responded to the increased need in our local communities and expanded alongside our dealer network to help families across New England,” says ATG Integrated Marketing Manager Sarah Harrington, who leads the Haulin’ 4 Hunger program. “It has been so impactful to witness ATG’s growing number of employees who embrace this commitment to giving back. From every quarterly nonperishable donation and fresh meal delivery they make, to the personal initiatives they take to help support the program, their efforts showcase the power of coming together to do good in our communities.”
Undertaking an effort of this scale takes significant planning, coordination and support to make it all possible, and ATG employees dedicate countless hours to purchase, collect, sort and package food to help those in need. Today, ATG’s commitment to Haulin’ 4 Hunger has never been stronger. Working together, ATG has brought Haulin’ 4 Hunger to every area it operates and secured over 30,000 meals for the organizations that work tirelessly for people experiencing food insecurity in its communities. As ATG celebrates the 10th anniversary of Haulin’ 4 Hunger, it looks forward to continuing to work with those who share its commitment to fighting food insecurity and improving the quality of life in the communities it serves.
