TCCA will focus most of its relief efforts in the rural Oregon communities where the company operates production facilities and where many TCCA employees work and live – in Tillamook and Morrow counties.
"Extraordinary challenges require extraordinary responses, and it's a time for businesses – including ours – to step up in a big way," said Patrick Criteser, TCCA's president & CEO.
"We are inspired by the critical role we play in keeping food on America's tables, and are fortunate that our company is strong right now so we can help others."
TCCA's relief efforts include expanding sick leave, offering premium pay for front-line manufacturing workers and maintaining full wages and benefits for all employees, even those who were working at the company's temporarily closed Tillamook Creamery visitor experience. The company is also creating a special resilience fund for team members experiencing substantial financial distress.
TCCA is also doubling paid volunteer hours for employees and establishing a new employee donation matching program, so employees can directly participate in relief efforts.
It is increasing the scale of direct-to-community product donations and expanding community enrichment funding to support non-profits impacted by the pandemic, particularly those that serve the company's three primary focus areas for giving: food security, healthful children and agricultural advocacy.
This includes $200,000 to the Oregon Food Bank, as well as donations to the food banks in Tillamook and Morrow counties; $100,000 to the Oregon Community Foundation to support relief efforts in communities across the state; $20,000 to Tillamook County Action Resource Enterprises, Inc. (CARE) to help with rental, energy and other emergency services for low- to middle-income families in Tillamook County who have been laid off or lost wages as a result of the COVID-19 crisis; $15,000 to the Tillamook County Wellness program to help fund a new youth outdoor recreation coordinator; $10,000 to Tillamook Early Learning Center to help keep one of the few childcare facilities in Tillamook afloat and offer scholarships to families returning to care once they reopen; and $5,000 to the Oregon State University Foundation to fund scholarships for students studying agriculture.
The company has also earmarked $500,000 to create or invest in programs that aid business revitalization efforts in Tillamook and Morrow counties and support the communities' small businesses as they recover from the impacts of COVID-19.
While most efforts will be focused on local support, TCCA said it is also planning to support its retail, restaurant and foodservice partners nationwide through financial and product donations to support COVID-19 response efforts in the weeks and months ahead.
Yili helping in Indonesia
China’s Yili Group is working with PT Green Asia Food Indonesia to send personal protective equipment (PPE) to Indonesia as part of the relief effort to support local communities.
The medical supplies, including 100,000 surgical masks, 2,000 protective suits and 2,000 pairs of goggles, were delivered to the Executive Office of the President of Republic of Indonesia earlier this week.
"The donation will help protect the most vulnerable from contracting the coronavirus and better equip hardworking healthcare workers," said Ferdy Alfarizka, an expert of the Presidential Staff Office.
Yili established its Indonesian headquarters in Jakarta in 2015, and the construction of a factory in Indonesia is expected to enter operation later this year.
With the gradual improvement of China's epidemic situation, Pan Gang, the president of Yili Group, said he has been paying attention to countries outside of China, and organizing donations and funds support in multiple countries and regions.
Yili is the first food company to join the COVID-19 Fund of the Chinese Red Cross, and has provided anti-epidemic material assistance in China, Thailand, the Netherlands, Uruguay, and Iraq.
