More than 400 join in to provide 1,500 worker hours and process over 45,000 kilos of food

Holland America Line President and CEO and Seabourn Chairman Stein Kruse joined employees during the Seattle-based cruise companies’ fifth annual community giving week at Northwest Harvest, an organisation that feeds the hungry in Washington State. 

As part of annual holiday activities, more than 400 Holland America Line and Seabourn employees helped process and prepare more than 45,000 kilos of food for area food banks, shelters and meal programs.  During the week of December 3 through 7, employees volunteered for morning and afternoon shifts at the Kent, Washington, distribution centre for Northwest Harvest. Kruse also presented Northwest Harvest with a monetary and grocery card donation totaling more than US$2,700 on behalf of the cruise lines and their employees.

“Holland America Line and Seabourn are committed to being responsible community partners, and we’re honored to support a local organisation that does such important work,” said Kruse. “Northwest Harvest affects so many lives and we commend them for ensuring that those who need it have a warm meal and don’t go to bed hungry.”

The 2012 donation marks the fifth consecutive year that Holland America Line and Seabourn have supported Northwest Harvest. Since 2008, approximately 2,500 employees have volunteered at the Kent location, in addition to giving food and monetary donations.  Northwest Harvest executives estimate that company employees have helped sort more than 225,000 kilos of food over the years.