Hormel Foods is continuing its fight against hunger, this time in its own backyard.

The Austin plant of Hormel Foods Corp. announced today that it donated $10,000 to fight hunger in the Austin community.

The plant presented $4,000 donations to both Meals on Wheels and the Salvation Army. The Austin plant also donated to each organization in 2011 and 2012. In addition, the plant donated $2,000 to the United Way of Mower County’s Women’s Leadership Initiative, which will help fund the Weekend Food Backpack Program. This initiative provides easy-to-prepare food for children and their siblings to eat over the weekend, and ensures children are eating when they are not attending school.

The Meals on Wheels program in Austin was established in 1973 and delivers more than 80 daily meals to the homebound elderly, ill and disabled throughout the community for a minimal suggested cost.

The Salvation Army has served Austin for more than 100 years and administers multiple hunger relief initiatives. These include a food shelf currently serving more than 300 families each month, a backpack program for approximately 80 children each week, and community meals five nights a week for more than 70 individuals.

“I extend a heartfelt ‘thank you’ to the hardworking employees of the Austin plant. Their commitment to quality – day in and day out – help make it possible for our company to continue the plant community donations program,” said Tim Fritz, Austin plant manager. “On behalf of our facility, I’m honored to present these donations to these fine organizations.”

For the third consecutive year, Hormel is giving funds to U.S. manufacturing facilities to share with nonprofits in their respective communities to fight hunger. In 2012, Hormel Foods donated $220,000 to local hunger relief organizations in more than 20 U.S. communities where it has manufacturing facilities.

“For the last two years, we’ve been able to assist our plant communities in local hunger relief efforts,” said Julie Craven, vice president of corporate communications at Hormel. “We are committed to helping fight hunger in the areas where we live and work. It’s with great excitement that we continue the program throughout 2013.”

Hormel is helping those in need both in the U.S. and internationally through its On Our Way to Ending Hunger program. The company collaborates with retailers, nonprofits and the government on hunger relief efforts; nourishes the hungry in the U.S. and abroad; and motivates individuals and corporate partners to take action to fight hunger.