On Saturday, December 10, the employees of MannMade Innovations and their families gathered in South Ogden, Utah, for their annual company Christmas party. This occasion, however, was not one of those holiday get-togethers highlighted by egg nog and ugly sweaters—as great as those things are!—alone. Instead, this celebration would also include an opportunity to do something that would make a positive difference in the lives of a number of families in need.
Rather than enjoying a catered Christmas dinner, the brains behind MannMade decided instead to use those funds to prepare more than 150 meals to send to the local “Pantry Packs” program, sponsored by Catholic Community Services. The intended recipients of the meals provided by this program are children who also receive free lunches while they attend school.
Inside each Pantry Pack, which comes in a gallon-size Ziploc bag, is a meal consisting of: a can of tuna fish, a package of Top Ramen noodles, an individual serving of Chef Boyardee ravioli, two packets of instant oatmeal, a granola bar, fruit snacks, applesauce, peanut butter crackers, and a box of macaroni and cheese.
Local businesses Electrodyne, Klugonyx, and Swarm made generous contributions to the cause and, combined with the funds provided by MannMade, the food items for the Pantry Packs were acquired. All that remained, then, was to assemble the Pantry Packs, which MannMade employees and their families took care of during the first hour of their holiday festivities.
Once the packets had been prepared, MannMade employees and their families then sat down to a potluck dinner together. Because of their efforts on this service project, their hope is that many others in the Ogden (and surrounding) area will be able to enjoy some delicious meals of their own in the coming chilly days and nights.
MannMade is grateful for the chance to give Catholic Community Services and Pantry Packs a helping hand. Every little bit helps, which is a message we hope will be spread to others who reside and work along the Wasatch Front.
