Quality Pork Processors employees showed Austin Wednesday what it means to look out for those in their own community.

Together, QPP employees raised $157,000, which they contributed to United Way’s holiday campaign Wednesday afternoon.

Thirteen employees volunteered this year to be solicitors for the campaign, taking extra time from their schedule to encourage other QPP employees to give back to the community. In the end, 89 percent of QPP’s 1,300 employees donated. This year’s contribution exceeded last year’s , raising $7,000 more than they had the year before.

“Without this group of solicitors, we would never get the campaign numbers we get,” said United Way of Mower County Executive Director Mandi Lighthizer – Schmidt.

Those who donated were eligible for prizes, which were handed out Wednesday to employees during a brief meeting.

Lighthizer – Schmidt said it’s that kind of support shown by QPP management that keeps the company’s tradition of contributing to the campaign strong. In the last seven years, QPP employees have donated more than $700,000 to annual campaigns.

The amount of donations given by employees is an indication of how workers feel about helping out their fellow neighbor, Lighthizer – Schmidt said.

“They do it because they believe in it,” she said.

This year’s donation, which is the second largest in this year’s United Way campaign, lifts the total amount donated for this year to $879,000 — just short of its $965,000 goal. The first largest contributor is Hormel’s corporate office, though numbers relating to that donation have not yet been released.

Contributions will benefit programs throughout the community, such as after school programs at the YMCA, disaster relief at the Red Cross and food services at Salvation Army.

Lighthizer – Schmidt said the active part of the campaign officially wraps up on Dec. 15, though the organization continued to accept donations through February.

The success of this year’s campaign will be announced in April.