Hannaford, Carando Go to Bat for Good Cause

Hannaford and Carando Classic Italian Meats have teamed up to hit a home run for the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Maine. The two companies sponsored an Aug. 3 minor-league baseball game between the Portland Sea Dogs and the Trenton Thunder, at which they treated 100 kids and volunteers involved in the organization to a day at the local baseball park.

"A picnic and a baseball game is a special outing for the kids in our program, and we are grateful to Carando for this kind of gift which we rarely receive," said Sam Beal, executive director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Maine.

The day out began with a picnic before the game in nearby Deering Oaks Park, where Carando and Hannaford employees, along with Big Brothers Big Sisters participants, chowed down on Carando Ham and Classic Italian sandwiches, potato chips and cookies. After lunch, the party walked over to Hadlock Field to watch the game. In their capacity as sponsors, Carando and Hannaford gave free admission to all Big Brothers Big Sisters attendees. Jonnie Terrill, a boy in the program, even threw out the first pitch (see image above).

"Hannaford has been a longtime supporter of Big Brothers Big Sisters, because the organization has such as strong track record of providing positive experiences to young people in our community," noted Sherri Stevens, community relations specialist for the Scarborough, Maine-based grocer, a Delhaize America division operating 186 stores in Maine, New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont.

"There are so many unsung heroes that take an active role in helping others and we’re excited that we have the opportunity to show them our appreciation," said Mike Sargent, brand manager at Carando, a brand of Lisle, Ill.-based John Morrell Food Group.

Over the past two years, Carando has focused on helping local communities in the New England region through its Carando Cares campaign. Other activities have included serving Christmas lunch to Springfield, Mass., firefighters and providing Easter dinner to patients from the Shriners Hospital for Children-Boston.