Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Northwest Indiana president & CEO Ryan Smiley, third from right, with volunteers from Strack & Van Til, Indiana Beverage, MolsonCoors and Aunt Millie’s. Every year, the organizations come together to donate food to Boys & Girls Clubs families. (Photo provided)
Roughly 500 Boys & Girls Clubs families had Christmas dinner this year thanks to donations from Strack & Van Til, Indiana Beverage, MolsonCoors and Aunt Millie’s. Continuing an annual tradition, employees of each gathered at the John Will Anderson Boys & Girls Club in Gary to stuff bags with various food items and Club staff then packed the food onto buses and drove them to each of the youth development organization’s ten Clubs in Lake and Porter counties.
Strack & Van Til CEO Jeff Strack said it was a privilege to give hundreds of Club families Christmas dinner.“Strack & Van Til is proud to once again partner with Indiana Beverage, MolsonCoors and Aunt Millie’s for our annual Christmas dinner giveaway to Boys & Girls Clubs families. We have been fortunate to be in the position to give back, and it’s important to us to help families in the community who need a helping hand during the Christmas season.” Strack said partnering with Boys & Girls Clubs is an important part of their corporate philosophy of giving back to the communities Strack & Van Til serves. “We’re proud to be part of these communities, and the Clubs play an important role by providing fun, safe places for kids to spend their time after school.”
Boys & Girls Clubs president and CEO Ryan Smiley thanked the companies for their donations and the employees for helping assemble the meals. “We’re grateful that so many caring and dedicated people come together year after year in support of our mission,” said Smiley. “It’s an honor for us to be in the position to hand these meals out to Club families, but it wouldn’t be possible with the support of everyone here. Whether through donations or volunteering their time, we know about 500 Club families will now have a nice Christmas dinner, and that’s a great way to end the year.”
