John Boos & Company Partners w/Other Local Businesses to Raise Funds for Food Bank

(John Boos & Co. employees gather outside the Boos Corporate Office Headquarters to draw the raffle prize winners for their second annual Feeding America fundraising campaign. (They reached out to many local businesses in their community for donations to hold a week-long successful raffle for their employees). 

For the second consecutive year, John Boos & Co., a prominent manufacturer of gourmet butcher block prep surfaces and stainless steel restaurant equipment, collaborated with local Effingham businesses and NAFEM to fundraise for the Feeding America Catholic Charity Food Bank.

Feeding America is the largest national hunger-relief organization in the United States, working to connect people with food and end hunger. It consists of 200 food banks and 60,000 food pantries and meal programs. They also meet people’s needs by partnering with other organizations that address everything from homelessness to healthcare.

The second annual John Boos Feeding America fundraising campaign launched in August and ended in September. John Boos reached out to many local businesses in their community for donations to hold a week-long successful raffle for their 250 plus employees.

26 local area businesses helped donate to the fundraising campaign. The NAFEM team visited the John Boos campus to hand pick the winners of the employee raffle. Proceeds from the raffle were matched by John Boos (the company) and in turn, NAFEM matched those donation dollars for a grand total of $11,718.00. A check was donated to one of Feeding America’s organizations, Catholic Charity Food Bank just in time for Hunger Awareness Month, which was in September.

This year John Boos & Co. did offer an online raffle drawing that allowed the public to purchase raffle tickets to win the ultimate kitchen package which included a stunning wood and stainless steel Boos Block Kitchen Cart, multiple sustainable solid wood cutting boards, and even more kitchen accessories. The donation will directly feed adults and children in the community who are food insecure. For every dollar donated, 97 cents will go straight to the distribution of food. A spokesman said, "This domino effect demonstrates how just one raffle can touch so many lives and create such an impact our communities."

(Amy Pajeau of the John Boos planning committee team sells raffle tickets to John Boos employees for their Feeding America Fundraiser)

NAFEM (North American Association of Food Equipment Manufacturers) is a trade association of 600+ commercial foodservice equipment and supplies manufacturers; and includes more than one million locations in the U.S. and countless more around the world. John Boos & Co. is a proud NAFEM member. Ted Gravenhorst Jr., VP of Sales & Marketing at John Boos & Co. and NAFEM board member states: “Our partnership with NAFEM and Feeding America has allowed us to align common goals of social responsibilities of eliminating hunger. We are proud of our community and employees for all the support and energy put forth to make our most recent campaign successful.”

John Boos & Co. is grateful for organizations like Feeding America whose endless hours, time and attention go to those in need.

Looking into next year, John Boos & Co. is already planning for ways the community and employees can help participate to help end hunger. It's a great way to come together to support Feeding America food bank while getting proceeds matched dollar for dollar. Thank you to their sponsors: Brookside Painting, Butler Supply, Effingham County Farm Bureau, Fastenal - Effingham, IL, Firefly Grill, Fox Holler Coffee, Gabby Goat American Pub & Grill, Ginger Ale’s - Effingham, IL, Hints Laser Engraving, John Boos Factory Showroom & Outlet, Kirby Risk - Effingham, IL, Lucia’s, Luke’s Bar & Grill, McMahon Meats, Old Mac’s Drive Thru, Omaha Steaks, Pals Electric, Probst Auto Body, Restoration Dental - Teutopolis, IL, Rural King - Effingham, IL, The Rusty Reel, Siemer Milling, TGIF - Effingham, IL, Tuscan Hills Winery, Village of Dieterich, and Wright’s Furniture & Flooring.