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2024 saw no shortage of need within our hometown community of Amsterdam, New York, as well as within hurricane-stricken parts of the United States. 👋Beech-Nut’s Helping Hands team sprang into action with these philanthropic efforts, led by Brittany Duncan, HR Manager, Supply Chain Business Partner, and Amanda Ettinger, Consumer Engagement Manager.

8th Annual Beech-Nut Gives Back

According to a 2023 report by the NYS Department of Health, 22% of Montgomery County NY adults reported food insecurity. On September 18^th, 2024, Beech-Nut hosted its 8^th annual Beech-Nut Gives Back drive-through food distribution event to serve over 1,000 families in need. In addition to our baby food & toddler snacks, families each received milk, produce, and baked and canned goods, loaded into the back of their cars by Beech-Nut employees. Elected local officials also helped to load cars and share their support for ending hunger in our area.

WRGB, Sean Cavanaugh

City of Amsterdam Summer Camp:

Local kiddos in search of fun & sun during their summer break attended City of Amsterdam Summer Camp Sponsored by Beech-Nut. Certified staff provided six weeks of all-day camp trips, pool days, healthy activities, and educational programming, such as visits from Amsterdam’s minor league baseball team. (Some days, we wish it were us hitting the bouncy slip ‘n slide and making friends for life.)

Donations for Emergency Disaster Relief:

Beech-Nut was proud to partner with @redcrossny to donate over 122k pouches & toddler snacks to families impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Beech-Nut items were promptly delivered to warehouses in North Carolina and Florida, where volunteers helped distribute them to families in need. We deeply thank the American Red Cross and its on-the-ground volunteers who provided food, shelters, and relief supplies.

Overall, in 2024, Beech-Nut donated:

• Disaster relief- 276,668 cases
• Local food banks- 38,896 cases
• Local events- 3,689 cases
• Ukraine – 29,087 cases

Project Cameron’s Story:

After struggling for months with severe Broncho-Pulmonary Dysplasia (BPD) and Pulmonary Hypertension, baby Cameron Jace Quartiers was readmitted to his nearby pediatric ICU. Unable hold & comfort her newborn, Sara Quartiers, bought children’s books with lots of words, sat by his incubator door and read to him for hours on end.

“After I became comfortable talking so much, I began verbally telling stories…and then just having full out conversations with him. Cameron and I created the closest bond two people can ever have. No matter where I was in a crowded room, if Cameron could hear my voice, he would turn his head and look all over just to find me.”

After Cameron passed away, Sara and Jason Quartiers founded Project Cameron’s Story to support the bonding of parents with their premature babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), through the use of children’s literature and storytelling. Their mission is to place a brand new, quality, children’s book in the hands of every parent of a premature baby upon admission to the NICU. Beech-Nut employees have been donating books to Project Cameron’s Story for over 10 years.

Donate A Book To Project Cameron’s Story

Thanksgiving Meal Kits & Holiday Adopt-A-Family:

Once again, Beech-Nut employees donated to the creation of Thanksgiving meal kits to feed hungry families in both Canajoharie, N.Y. and Amsterdam, N.Y. The meal kits included veggies, stuffing, dessert, holiday napkins, and grocery gift cards to purchase a turkey. During the Christmas season, Beech-Nut employees purchased and wrapped holiday gifts to support local children and got delivery help from a far less charitable Grinch (Trade Marketing Manager, Alicia Morgan).

Want to join a company where you can grow your career while making a positive impact in the community?  Please check out our careers page for new opportunities.