Advantage Truck Group (ATG), the largest Daimler Trucks North America dealer network in New England, is leading its annual Haulin’ 4 Hunger volunteer event to help combat hunger, an initiative launched in 2012 that has now provided nearly 16,000 fresh meals to Central Massachusetts residents who lack consistent access to enough food, the company says.
In Massachusetts, one in 11 people struggle with hunger. Through Haulin’ 4 Hunger, ATG is bringing together a team of employees and business sponsors to lead the delivery of nearly 3,000 fresh meals to six food pantry organizations.
“We believe it’s important for our company to make a difference in the communities where we live and work. Rather than gifting customers with a holiday basket, we decided to create a program — with the support of our customers — to give their gift to others,” says Kevin G. Holmes, ATG president and CEO.
“This simple idea has resulted in seven years of giving and, with the help of our customers, employees and sponsors we have been able to expand our reach and increase the number of fresh meals we provide to those in need,” Holmes says.
The Haulin’ 4 Hunger team of ATG employees and sponsors will be leading a caravan of trucks and hand-delivering fresh meals of hams and turkeys, along with assorted fixings, to six organizations offering food pantries and other services in Worcester County:
- Abby’s House — providing shelter, housing, advocacy and support to women in need
- Jeremiah’s Inn — helping adult men live in a safe and sober environment while beginning their journey to recovery
- South Worcester Neighborhood Center — providing social services to the South Worcester Community with a goal of personal advancement for each individual
- Anne’s Food Pantry — helping individuals in need in the Greater Worcester area through St. Anne’s parish outreach program
- John’s Food for the Poor Program — helping and reaching out to the poor and hungry
- Veterans Inc. — serving veterans and their families in New England by helping them regain control of their lives to eliminate homelessness
The Haulin’ 4 Hunger initiative is supported by employees and customers of ATG in Shrewsbury and other ATG dealer locations, and 11 business sponsors: Al’s Oil, Shrewsbury, Mass; Dennis K. Burke Inc., Taunton, Mass.; JW Consultants, Melrose, Mass.; McDevitt Trucks, Lancaster and Manchester, N.H.; Promotional Solutions, Danvers, Mass.; Regency Transportation, Franklin, Mass.; SelecTrucks of New England, Shrewsbury, Mass.; TD Bank, Bellows Falls, Vt.; Ted’s of Fayville, Southborough, Mass; Worcester Railers HC, Worcester, Mass.; and UniBank, Whitinsville, Mass.
BJ’s Wholesale Club and Walmart of Northborough are helping to coordinate food for the event.
Haulin’ 4 Hunger will take place on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2019, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The caravan of trucks will depart from ATG Shrewsbury and arrive at St. John’s Food for the Poor Program, 44 Temple Street, Worcester, Mass., at 10:45 a.m., where ATG and its Haulin’ 4 Hunger team will be joined by Massachusetts Sen. Michael Moore, along with Worcester Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Tim Murray and Vice PreÂÂsident of Operations Karen Pelletier, to kick-off the event.
“We are grateful for the continued support and commitment that our employees, customers and business partners have for this program and the community of giving it has created in the trucking industry,” says Holmes. “It is wonderful to see the positive impact their efforts are making to the most vulnerable members of our communities and to the local nonprofit organizations whose hunger and food insecurity programs are helping those who need it most.”
In 2020, ATG plans to expand its Haulin’ 4 Hunger program to other ATG dealer locations in New England to help support food pantry organizations in the communities they serve.
