Employees at Mercury Marine's facilities in Fond du Lac, Wis., raised more than $10,000 in food and monetary donations for the Fondy Food Pantry during the marine engine manufacturer's June 6-9 "Fill the Boat" food drive.
The drive was the first "quality of life" quarterly event Mercury Marine has held as part of the company's sustainability program. The events are aimed at connecting employees with community organizations.
"Mercury Marine is already dedicated to supporting several worthy organizations throughout the year," vice president of human resources Denise Devereaux said in a statement. "These quarterly events will allow Mercury Marine to reach out to additional organizations that will further enhance our employees' lives and the communities in which they live and work."
Employees donated an estimated 6,500 food items - enough to fill three boats - and $2,100 in monetary gifts.
An additional $1,650 was donated to the food pantry from the proceeds of Thursday's campus-wide cookout. John Gillespie, host of the "Waters and Woods" TV show, attended and recorded the cookout for a future episode. Mercury employee Jon Beahm won an on-air fishing experience with Gillespie through the food drive's free raffle.
The 6,500 food items are enough to feed 32 families of four for a month, and the cash donation will feed 50 children for 12 weeks through the food pantry's "Food for Thought" weekend program, according to Sarah Zimmerman, Fondy Food Pantry's president
