Leave it to the world’s largest ethanol producer to also be in contention for one of the largest hearts as well.
Our friends at the Poet Biorefining plant in Glenville, Minnesota are playing Santa this week to 27 families in their local area who just need a little help this Christmas.
This story from the Albert Lea (MN) Tribune explains they are taking part in the Ethanol Cares program, a charitable program that uses donations POET employees raise themselves:
Freeborn County Public Health and Worth County Public Health submitted the names of families in need, along with information about what their needs are and what types of things they enjoy.
Then on Wednesday, 12 people with the company went through the aisles of Wal-Mart for two hours to try to fill those needs for each family.
Pat Mook, who has been involved with the program for several years, said the group filled 15 carts full of toys, clothes, and other items. When they took all 15 carts up to the cash register, the clerk rang up all the items and had tears running down her face when she saw the total, she said.
While many of the gifts are brand new, this year the company has also asked for gently used donations as well. They’ve collected items such as a baby bed, a table and chairs, a dresser and lots of winter coats, among many others.
“There’s always a child who has something they’ve never played with they can give,” Mook said.
The article goes on to say that while this is a program that gets the most attention during the holidays, it’s something that goes on year-round.
God bless the good people of POET and all the green fuel providers who do more than just produce a product.