For the Hub City Times

STRATFORD – Through a “Food Drive Money War,” associates at A&B Process Systems/JBT Corporation in Stratford were able to donate $7K in grocery gift cards to area food pantries.

“The annual food drive has changed over the years from a traditional food drive, to a ‘money war’ in which paper bills ($1, $5, $10, $20, etc.) are counted towards the total for a group, and any coins that were deposited into a group’s jar counted against the group. To get our associates even more motivated to participate, the final week we did a special raffle for givers where they could register to be put in raffles for prizes donated by our generous vendors – prizes ranged from gift cards to Milwaukee drill sets,” a company release stated.

“As in past years, the competition, and camaraderie, was intense. Associates were split up into three groups; Plant 1 was the winner the first week. Tanks & Vessels was the second and third week winner, as well as the overall winner. Tanks & Vessels will now be able to proudly display the food drive trophy until next year’s drive.”

During this year’s food drive, A&B associates donated $6,326.75 and A&B Process Systems donated $5 for every $50 collected, to bring the total donation to $7,052.38.

With the money collected, Festival Foods gift cards were purchased and donated to 18 local facilities. Many of the gift cards are given to families to help with purchasing items that aren’t available from the pantries, such as meat and fresh produce.