In mid-December, Dandrea Produce LLC, based in Vineland, NJ, had just wrapped up its employee-based gift drive. During the fund-raising event it collected thousands of dollars to provide the children of its entire warehouse and repack division employees with gifts for the holidays.

“We used the excess money to purchase gifts for other charities as well,” said Lauren Dandrea, a fourth-generation Dandrea family member who works in international procurement for the company. “We plan to make this an annual gift drive, and we are really excited about it.”Fourth-generation Dandrea family members Lauren Dandrea, Peter Dandrea, Adam Dandrea and Jana Dandrea with Nick Ott, Dandrea’s office manager, pictured in a pile of holiday gifts destined for the children of Dandrea Produce staff members.

The 2015 gift drive was the company’s first organized fund raiser. Its goal was to raise $5,000 for 75 children, with contributions from employees in the sales office and Dandrea families.

“We surpassed that goal and raised $7,000,” said Dandrea. “Rather than distribute the cash, we created gift bags with five or six presents for each child based on their gender and age. All excess toys were donated to the Toys for Tots Foundation.”

The Toys for Tots program is operated by the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, which distributes toys to children whose parents cannot afford to buy them gifts for Christmas.

Dandrea said because the fund raiser was so successful, the company has decided to make it an annual gift drive. The outside charity choices may vary in the future.

“The gift giving drive is an extension of the ideals of Dandrea Produce,” Dandrea pointed out. “We strive to be a company of integrity, compassion and kindness. We are all about our employees, and to an even greater extent, to their children. People are working hard every day to make ends meet and we wanted to alleviate some of that pressure for our employees so that they could bring happiness to their families.”

She added that the company was overwhelmed by the generosity of those who contributed to its holiday gift drive this year.

“It was an incredibly touching experience,” said Dandrea. “We are hopeful that we made Christmas a little less stressful for our families, and we hope that other companies in our industry will consider similar measures.

“Dandrea Produce is its employees, and we are extremely appreciative of each and every one of them,” she added.