Hormel donates hams to heroes

Clarke County Veterans Affairs and General Relief Director Joella Perry has a big order at the holidays. She filled a special part of it Thursday, Dec. 22, with the help of an area business and volunteers.

Two representatives of Hormel Military Veterans Engagement Team (HMVET) met with Perry last week before the holidays to donate more than 60 meals donated by the company. Brian Ottergerling and Rich Kreitzinger are both supervisors at Hormel. They’re also both veterans and members of HMVET.

“This is our second year,” said Ottergerling. “It was a pilot program to get more involved in the community. I contacted Joelle, and she said, ‘Here’s how you can help.’”

Hormel owns the Osceola Foods meat packaging plant located at 1027 Warren Ave.

“The last two years, I’d say they’ve donated 200 to 300 hams,” said Perry. “It goes to veterans in Clarke County right now, not just during the holidays but throughout the year. For a lot of them, it’s exciting to get something like this.”

According to the National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics, of the 79,000 veterans living in rural Iowa, 6.3 percent live below the poverty level. Regardless of their income, programs like these help alleviate financial and emotional strain from veterans.

“We’re Hormel veterans helping veterans in the community,” said Ottergerling.

“It’s just a good way to say ‘Thank you for your service,’” said Kreitzinger, “and ‘Merry Christmas.’”

The donation was accepted on behalf of area veterans by Dan Hooper of American Legion Post No. 69.

The Osceola Foods facility employs 100 full-time workers in the area and brings in more than $45 million in revenue for Hormel annually. Best-known for supplying troops with SPAM during World War II, Hormel has an ongoing commitment to fighting hunger throughout the U.S. and the world, starting right here in Osceola.