Partner Spotlight:
Medtronic and the Neighbors Helping Neighbors Food Drive
When dedicated community members join forces with a company driven by a passion for impact, real change happens. The Neighbors Helping Neighbors Food Drive (NHN), led by Medtronic of Eatontown, is a powerful example of how teamwork can turn compassion into action – bringing meals to those in need and making a lasting difference in the fight against hunger. Since 2008, Medtronic (formerly Osteotech), a leader in healthcare technology, has spearheaded this initiative – bringing together employees, local businesses and neighbors to support Fulfill and address hunger in Monmouth and Ocean Counties.
The Neighbors Helping Neighbors Food Drive began as a small initiative led by Medtronic employees. After hearing a presentation at a monthly meeting about advancing public health in New Jersey, former Osteotech CEO Sam Owusu-Akyaw was inspired to make a change to supplement the food shortage in the community, which is why NHN was created.
Since its start, the drive has collected food and monetary donations for over 1,132,747 meals for Fulfill. Now in its 17th year, the NHN campaign surpassed its own annual record – providing over 181,000 meals, bringing the NHN total up to over $1.3M meals made available for those in need in our community!
Medtronic Sr. Category Manager- Tissue & Biologics Michele Napolitani, currently the leader of this initiative, is proud of the work Medtronic has done to support Fulfill. From hosting local fundraisers and distributing and collecting food donation boxes to networking, fall festivals, block parties and more, Michele and the Medtronic Eatontown Mission Support Team work aggressively throughout the year to make an impact.
“Food insecurity can affect anyone, at any level. No one is immune,” Michele said. “Working with Fulfill has opened my eyes to the challenges that many people face – especially children. Medtronic strives to do more to help alleviate hunger with Fulfill every year.”
Michele and her team are already planning for the future. They aim to expand the drive’s reach by recruiting more businesses, hosting more fundraising events and increasing utilization of Medtronic’s matching gifts and volunteer grant programs among employees as another source of donations.
Every year around the holidays, the Medtronic team volunteers at Fulfill’s Neptune Headquarters, working to support operations from sorting donations to packaging meals to serve the community.
“Seeing this campaign grow over the years, knowing it’s a true team effort, is incredibly rewarding,” she said. “The fact that my colleagues share this passion and rally behind this cause blows my mind. It’s a culture of giving that I’m proud to be part of.”
Stephanie Ferrier, the Vice President of Development & External Relations at Fulfill, is amazed at the impact of Medtronic’s efforts.
“Fulfill is grateful for Medtronic’s partnership and the incredible outcomes of the Neighbors Helping Neighbors Food Drive. The NHN Food Drive is a testament to the power of community and corporate responsibility. This drive has been going on for 17 years! Thousands of families were able to access food at their local pantry as a result of Medtronic’s efforts.” said Stephanie.
If you’d like to learn more about how you can organize a food drive or fund drive to support Fulfill’s mission, visit https://fulfillnj.org/ways-to-help/.