Donio’s partnership brings food to families in need

The holiday season is not only a time for giving thanks but also a time for giving back. For the second year in a row, Frank Donio Inc. has partnered with The WOW Center to do just that. On Nov. 22, Josh Minton and Annie Pape of Donio’s delivered fresh items that were included in packages distributed to families in need for their Thanksgiving meals.

“As a family business in the fresh produce industry, we’ve always valued our unique ability to support families in our community through food. We’re proud to be able work with The WOW Center to accomplish that,” said Pape, a member of the Donio family’s fourth generation. 

The WOW Center, headquartered in Merchantville, NJ, is a female-founded nonprofit focused on providing resources to support and uplift women in the community. “The WOW Center exists to empower women to thrive, dream, believe, and pursue the impossible through love and community,” said Melissa (Mel) Padin, co-founder and executive director. “We provide a variety of programming from financial literacy training to entrepreneurship classes to a dress for success boutique, food pantry, and more.”

Included in these resources are the food care packages that The WOW Center is assembling and distributing to families in need this Thanksgiving.  “We are blessed to partner with generous companies like Donio Inc. to provide Thanksgiving meals for 30 local families and 37 families at a local domestic violence shelter,” said Noelle St.Clair Lentz, co-founder and board chair of The WOW Center.  “We truly believe that when you empower a woman you also support her family and community.”

Donio’s first provided fresh produce for the organization’s Thanksgiving distribution in 2021 and continued for this year’s holiday by contributing sweet potatoes, cranberries, stuffing mix, parsnips, collard greens, soup herbs and blueberries. “I have known Noelle for over a decade, she is doing some amazing work with The WOW Center,” said Josh Minton, a member of the Donio sales team. “I love working at a place where giving back to the community is a top priority, and to work with The WOW center to provide these items to local families in need is one of the best parts of my job.”

Photo: Josh Minton and Annie Pape of Donio’s at The WOW Center.