Tag: Churches

The People of U.S. Sugar Mark 2020 Holiday Season With Service and Support for Neighbors in the Glades Farming Communities

Posted on by U.S. Sugar

Clewiston, FL – As the company’s 90th harvest season continues, the people of U.S. Sugar are giving back during the holiday season with contributions of food and service to local senior centers, schools, churches, medical facilities, nonprofits, city and county governments. Over the past two weeks, U.S. Sugar has been partnering with area organizations in Glades, Hendry, Palm Beach counties to provide food to those in need and ensure the children of our local communities receive a present on Christmas.

“COVID-19 has changed quite a bit for everyone, but it has not taken away the joy of sharing the bounty of our harvest with our friends and neighbors in the communities we serve,” said Brannan Thomas, Community Relations Manager. “The people of U.S. Sugar are not only focused on growing food crops throughout the year for millions of Americans, but also on giving back to our home communities during the holidays.”

On Saturday, December 15, volunteers from U.S. Sugar joined members of the United States Marine Corps and Toys for Tots on The Santa Express to deliver nearly 2,000 toys to children across the Glades. Additionally, U.S. Sugar provided nearly 5,000 pounds of fresh, locally-grown produce to local churches, city government employees, and teachers in Clewiston, South Bay, Belle Glade and Pahokee. Finally, volunteers also delivered more than 4,000 holiday turkeys and bags of locally-produced pure cane sugar to company employees as well as employees with the cities of Moore Haven, LaBelle, and Clewiston and local law enforcement, fire and EMTs.

Over the past few weeks, donations have been joyfully made to the following organizations:

  • Glades County Sheriff’s Department
  • Hendry County
  • City of Clewiston
  • Clewiston Senior Center
  • Harlem Community
  • Catholic Charities
  • New Harvest Church
  • Harlem Senior Center
  • City of South Bay
  • City of Belle Glade
  • City of Pahokee
  • Pahokee High School

“We are proud to live in these surrounding, close-knit farming communities and raise our families here,” added Thomas. “As a product of the Glades, I know firsthand how much these community partnerships help support and lift up each other and build goodwill among our neighbors and residents.”

U.S. Sugar is committed to serving its local communities, a commitment which has been an important part of the company’s mission since it was founded in 1931.

The People of U.S. Sugar Provide More than 120,000 Servings of Fresh, Locally-Grown Green Beans to Employees, South Florida Churches, Healthcare Providers and Food Banks

Posted on by U.S. Sugar

Clewiston, FL – As part of its ongoing local response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. Sugar today announced it is contributing nearly 1,000 crates, or the equivalent of 120,000 servings of fresh, locally and American-grown green beans to employees, churches, healthcare providers, and food banks across South Florida.

“We are neighbors helping neighbors and trying to share the bounty of our farms with local families when they need it most,” said Judy Sanchez, U.S. Sugar Senior Director for Corporate Communications and Public Affairs. “These communities, where we have lived and raised our families for generations, hold a special place in our hearts.  Local families can have faith in knowing the people of U.S. Sugar will always be there for them.”

This week, the people of U.S. Sugar began distributing crates of green beans to area community organizations. Here are a list of our partners receiving fresh green beans that were grown on U.S. Sugar’s farms:

–          Christ Central Church (LaBelle, Florida)

–          Friendship Baptist Church (Harlem, Florida)

–          Florida Community Health Center (Clewiston, Florida)

–          Hendry Regional Medical Center (Clewiston, Florida)

–          St. Margaret Parish (Clewiston, Florida)

–          First United Methodist Church (Clewiston, Florida)

–          The Glades Initiative (Belle Glade, Florida)

–          Palm Beach County Food Bank (Lantana, Florida)

–          Holy Cross Catholic Church (Indiantown, Florida)

–          Community Cooperative (Ft. Myers, Florida)

What South Florida Leaders Are Saying about U.S. Sugar’s Green Bean Donation

“Thank you to U.S. Sugar, which we can always count on to be a good corporate citizen, especially in times of crisis. We appreciate their support in providing fresh food to our LaBelle community.”

–          Mitchell Wills, Pastor of LaBelle Christ Central Church

“We appreciate the generous food donation from U.S. Sugar, which will help to feed hundreds of families in our Harlem community. In this crisis and many others, farmers always have our backs and we are grateful for their hard work growing food for Americans during this ongoing epidemic.”

–          Pastor Gary McNealy, Harlem Greater Friendship Baptist Church

“Thanks to the people of U.S. Sugar, many of our community’s nurses and doctors will be eating and jucing fresh and healthy green beans grown locally by farmers. We offer our sincere appreciation for U.S. Sugar’s donation of crates of green beans as we continue to tackle COVID-19 in our local community.”

–          Nardina Johnson, Administrator of Florida Community Health Centers in Clewiston

“When ‘God Made a Farmer,’ he also made a selfless and humble servant that provides food for those in need. During this Holy Week, we appreciate the kindness and generosity U.S. Sugar and its employees are showing during this difficult time.”

–          Pastor Jeff Smith, First United Methodist Church in Clewiston

“With U.S. Sugar’s generous support, we have enough fresh green beans to help feed thousands of families in the Glades communities. We cannot thank them enough for donating crates of green beans so we can distribute them locally.”

–          Jose Jesus Zaragoza, Director of Communications and Advancement for The Glades Initiative

“During the COVID-19 crisis, thousands of South Florida families are in need of food, so we appreciate U.S. Sugar’s generous donation during this critical time. Thanks to U.S. Sugar, thousands of local families will have access to fresh green beans grown locally by farmers.”

–          Karen Erren, Executive Director of the Palm Beach County Food Bank

“We are incredibly appreciative of U.S. Sugar’s generous donation during these uncertain times. With this contribution, we will be able to feed hundreds of people throughout the Village of Indiantown including the members of our congregation and schools across the community.”
– Indiantown Vice Mayor and Holy Cross Catholic Church Office Coordinator Janet Hernandez

“We are grateful to U.S. Sugar for the 50+ bushels of green beans they donated.  They will be served to thousands of families over the Easter weekend and comes as a blessing during these trying times. US Sugar has been a strong partner through the years and we are very appreciative of their continued support of the Community Cooperative.”

–          Stefanie Edwards, Chief Development & Operating Officer of the Community Cooperative

About U.S. Sugar

U.S. Sugar is a farming company that grows and processes sugarcane, citrus, green beans, sweet corn and other vegetables. The company was founded in 1931 by Charles Stewart Mott, a visionary leader who hailed from a long line of farmers. Since the beginning, our company’s success has been rooted in traditional farming values and respect for the land.