Cummins Inc. has been a committed partner to the CEAP community for about two decades, providing both funds and volunteers. Callie DeFranco, one of Cummins’ Corporate Responsibility Leaders in North America, says that their Twin Cities Community Involvement Team is focused on the Brooklyn Center and Brooklyn Park area. “The need is so great in this community, and we know we can make a greater impact by concentrating our efforts here.”
Cummins contributed significant funding towards CEAP’s upcoming Mobile Food Program. This support comes as part of the Cummins Advocating for Racial Equity (CARE) initiative, which works to dismantle institutional racism and create systemic equity. “We were impressed by how CEAP pivoted during COVID to really meet the community where it needed help in a safe way,” Callie says. “CARE targets transformational projects, especially in food deserts, and we know CEAP is a trusted partner that continues to lead the transformation of our community food system to advance racial equity.”
Callie says that CEAP was considered for funding in the first place because Cummins employees have had such deep engagement with CEAP as volunteers. Most recently, a group of volunteers from Cummins helped CEAP pack produce as part of our 50th anniversary celebration! These hands of support from Cummins and employees like Callie have helped CEAP build a community safety net that every neighbor can count on.
