Hormel employees bring Christmas joy to Nexus-Gerard
Published 5:02 pm Wednesday, December 13, 2023
Denver Ritz-Vorwald brings in gifts for Nexus-Gerard Family Healing, a part of the third year of Hormel Food Corps intiative of reaching out to the facility. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Hormel Foods employee Bailey Petersen brings in presents for kids at Nexus-Gerard Family Healing Wednesday morning. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Cards of thanks and well wishes were dropped off with toys for the kids of Nexus-Gerard Family Healing Wednesday morning. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Nexus-Gerard Family Healing Executive Director Karen Wolf carries presents for kids at the facility to the Christmas tree after being dropped off by Hormel Foods employees. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
A sign marks off the sentiment felt by Hormel Foods Corps employees who took part in giving to kids at Nexus-Gerard Family Healing, the third year they’ve given to the facility. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
A room at the Nexus-Gerard Family Healing was filled with gifts from Hormel Food Corps. employees, the third year the company has given to kids at the facility. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Nexus-Gerard Family Healing and Hormel Food Corps employees are pictured with gifts dropped off for the kids at Nexus-Gerard Wednesday. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Wednesday’s meal for staff included potato soup, turkey sandwich with red pepper aioli and assorted cookies. Photo provided
From left, Chef Barry Greenberg, Denver Ritz-Vorwald, Nexus Foundation Chair Jeanne Sheehan, Tammy Snee and Assistant Chef Gina Lundberg are pictured during the appreciation lunch for Nexus-Gerard Family Healing Wednesday. Photo provided
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Christmas came to the kids and staff of Nexus-Gerard Family Healing Wednesday and it came in the form of presents, food and appreciation.
For the third year, Hormel Foods and its employees came together to deliver gifts for the children at Nexus-Gerard and an appreciation dinner for staff, cooked by Hormel’s Chef Barry Greenberg, culinary team lead at Hormel Foods.
As employees funneled through the hall Wednesday morning, bringing gifts to be set by Nexus-Gerard’s Christmas tree, the room quickly became filled with bags and boxes of goodies and demonstrated what people coming together can do.
“I think we’re so lucky to be in Austin,” said Nexus-Gerard Executive Director Karen Wolf. “People in this community really care about each other and care about the other organizations. There is so much partnering among organizations. I think it speaks highly of our community that they care about people.”
The spirit of the day says as much about the company as well.
“Our team members are proud to support and recognize the staff and youth at Nexus-Gerard Family Healing,” said Katie Larson, senior vice president of Human Resources at Hormel Foods. “It’s inspiring to see how our team members come together for those in need in our community by bringing gifts and providing support. We are humbled by the amazing staff at Gerard for all the incredible work they do.”
Each youth at Nexus-Gerard is asked to submit a wish list, which is passed on to the communications team at Hormel. From these lists the team compiles a master list, which in turn is sent out to employees.
Lists in hand, the employees or groups of employees set out to purchase gifts for the children, similar to an Angel Tree.
According to Wolf, for many of the kids at Nexus-Gerard Christmas and the holidays can be a struggle for a variety of reasons, including being away from those they know.
Wednesday’s event, like the years before, shows the kids that there are those that care.
“Also, if you think about trauma,” Wolf said. “A lot of trauma happens around the holidays. It can be a lot of bad memories for the kids or maybe lack of food or no gifts.”
“What struck me the most the first year was when a kid wrote a thank-you and talked about how this is the best Christmas they’ve ever had and they’ve never gotten gifts like this,” Wolf continued. “They were so blown away and surprised that people care about them.”
Those thoughts are a two-way street for the employees as well.
“It’s actually a little bit overwhelming,” said Manager of Organizational Development at Hormel, Denver Ritz-Vorwald after all the gifts were brought in and laid out before the tree. “I volunteer here on a weekly basis so I get to know the youth on a very personal basis, so to come from a Hormel community as a team member and to see how much Hormel team members have given to the youth they’ve never met, it’s just heartwarming and for me it’s the whole reason for the season.”
Just as important is the appreciation for the staff. Not only was a meal served at lunch, but personal cards were also handed out as a thank you for the work they do, which can be especially challenging.
“The job is hard and they deal with a lot of hard things so I think there’s just that recognition that people care and understand what we do and the challenges we deal with,” Wolf said. “Wanting to come forward and support us is huge.”
At the end of the day, Wednesday’s events are a prime example of community giving over the holidays.
“I firmly believe a community is not a place you live, it’s a place you give and Gerard is a gem we have in our community that really does transform youth and transforms families,” Ritz-Vorwald said. “For us to be able to help them on this journey to just be a kid for a single day is really heartwarming.”
“It’s also a moment for us to say ‘thank you’ to them,” he said, referring to the staff of Nexus-Gerard. “It’s not an easy job, but it’s a rewarding job.”
