Hormel Foods Corp. has doubled down on fighting hunger.

The Austin-based company announced Monday it donated more than $6.5 million to hunger relief efforts worldwide during fiscal year 2013, up from about $3 million the year before. The donations are through Hormel’s On Our Way to Ending Hunger program, which was in its third year in 2013. The company donated about $5 million in the program’s inaugural year.

The program focuses on collaboration with retailers, nonprofit organizations and government agencies to address hunger relief, nourishing the hungry both domestically and internationally, as well as motivating individuals and corporate partners to take action against hunger.

“On Our Way to Ending Hunger is how our company is helping to address the very real issue of hunger in this country,” said Julie Craven, vice president of corporate communications at Hormel. “Through our plant community donations program, employees are able to make a real impact where they work and live, aiding local hunger relief organizations and strengthening their communities.”

Last year marked the fifth year of production for Hormel’s Spammy, a shelf-stable poultry product fortified with vitamins and minerals, to help prevent malnutrition in children in Guatemala.

The country has one of the highest poverty rates in Latin America, and working with its international partner, Food for the Poor, Hormel shipped 2.4 million cans of Spammy for individuals in need. Hormel employees also participated in three trips to Guatemala, engaging first hand in Project Spammy.

Throughout fiscal 2013, Hormel donated more than $220,000 to local hunger relief organizations in more than 20 communities where it has U.S. manufacturing facilities, including Austin. Each plant identifies the organizations within its community to support.

Addressing disaster relief needs last May, Hormel donated 165,000 Hormel Compleats microwave meals to Feeding America in support of tornado relief efforts in Oklahoma. Additionally, the company donated 3,456 cans of Hormel chili with beans, Stagg chili and Hormel Mary Kitchen roast beef hash to the Hawaii Foodbank through the American Institute of Architects Honolulu eighth annual Canstruction competition.

Hormel also continued its relationship with Hunger-Free Minnesota in 2013. Hunger-Free Minnesota is a statewide coalition of community and corporate organizations aimed at closing the “missing meals” gap in Minnesota.