Siler City, N.C.— On an exceptionally frigid Saturday morning, hundreds gathered in the employee parking lot at Mountaire Farms in Siler City. An assembly line of volunteers of all ages, city officials, law enforcement and company employees graciously gave their time and energy to pack thousands of boxed thanksgiving meals for families in North Carolina. Mountaire Farms, the fourth largest chicken company in the United States celebrated its 30th year of “Thanksgiving for Thousands”, an initiative of Mountaire Cares, the philanthropic arm of the company. Designed to give back to communities, the program provides not only nourishment to the underfed but ensures families have a hearty meal to eat Thanksgiving Day.
In its fifth year locally, Mountaire plants in Lumber Bridge, Statesville and Siler City packed a total of 23,500 boxes serving Chatham, Randolph, Alamance and some of Guilford and Harnett Counties.
On the Saturday before Thanksgiving, volunteers led by Mountaire Cares manger, Liz Mauney prepared boxes complete with all the fixings, designed to feed a family of four. Each meal contained a plump Mountaire roaster chicken, canned corn, green beans, cranberry sauce, yams, stuffing, gravy, and a brownie mix for dessert.
The giving community spirit was palpable from 7:00 am to noon, as local volunteers, and many who had traveled across the state to help, and trucks from community churches and non-profits as large as the Salvation Army lined the roads to Mountaire Farms in Siler City to gather the meals for distribution.
“This is our third year,” one volunteer who drove up from Raleigh said. “It’s simply amazing what this event does for families in need, and my wife and I are grateful to be part of it.”
“We had 175 people sign up,” Mauney said. “But everybody else just showed up, because they know when and where to come and help.”
As Liz Mauney coordinated the event, she spoke to what’s at the heart of the program. “We’re living out our commitment to being good stewards of all the assets God has entrusted to us,” she said references the Mountaire creed.
Mauney, whose career has included everything from being a professional nanny to leading Mountaire Cares embodies the true spirit of selflessness and giving. Her guidance and dedication in concert with the small armies of volunteers and community partners put food on the table Thanksgiving Day for those who need it most.
“I thank everyone for coming out and giving their time and energy for this event,” Mauney said. “It does so much to help our communities.”