TQL Helps Feeding Children Everywhere
When Total Quality Logistics Orlando employees learned about a charitable effort - like most things at TQL - they didn't settle for simply doing the minimum.
Since its founding in August of 2010, Feeding Children Everywhere has collected, prepared and shipped close to 60 million meals in the United States and 46 foreign counties.
“I started looking at them and thought, ‘With that many meals they had to need some help shipping them around the country,’” Dylan H. said. “I called and told them about us. We met with them and started covering their Montana to Florida lane.”
The relationship continues to grow. In fact, TQL named FCE its October Moves That Matters recipient, making a $1,000 donation to the cause.
Feeding Children Everywhere was grateful for the gift.
“This grant is going to help us get food to hungry people in need all over,” said Robert Andrescik, chief communications officer. “Our mission is a hunger-free world and we can’t do that without this kind of support.
“It’s literally putting food on the tables and in the mouths of people who wouldn’t have anything. This gift will make 4,000 meals. It’s feeding thousands and thousands of people.”
In the wake of Hurricane Matthew, the organization is focused on getting food to Haiti in particular, but also coastal areas of the American southeast.
“I think it’s a really good cause,” Dylan said. “They’re doing great work and they’re great to work with. I thought they’d be a great nominee for Moves That Matters.”
Moves That Matter benefits non-profit organizations who use the truckload transportation industry to move items that will help those in need. TQL employees, customers or carriers can nominate non-profit organizations with whom they have worked to help move an important load of freight.
Dylan and other members of Team Orlando participated in an FCE food-packing event and put together thousands of meals in a single afternoon.
“We got to see how it works firsthand and it was amazing,” Dylan said. “Just with the one event, you’re packing literally tens of thousands of meals in just a couple of hours.”
Meals are basic – lentils, rice, dehydrated vegetables and salt – but nutritious and sustainable. To say nothing of affordable, easily packaged and transported.
“We focus our philanthropic efforts on children, health-and-wellness initiatives and military support,” said Kerry Byrne, TQL president. “Feeding Children Everywhere’s focus fits our giving mission perfectly. We’re proud to partner with an organization that makes such a positive impact on so many lives.”
Moves That Matter began in 2014 with a gift to the Where Angels Play Foundation. TQL learned it was entrusted to move the equipment to build the last six of 26 Connecticut playgrounds constructed in memory of each victim of the 2012 Sandy Hook school shooting.
Moves That Matters is one of many programs administered by TQL Cares, the company’s employee-driven community service initiative.
