The foodbank assembly line

When it comes to filling a box, our employees know how to get in line. It’s a sight that needs to be seen: a palette of flattened boxes arrives at the warehouse, and rows of volunteers assemble the corrugated container into a vessel that can be used to unlimited means. A roll of toilet paper can be a crucial hygienic need for those who lack the access to such amenities. By filling the box, we aim to provide essential care products, food, and nutrition to underserved communities.

International Paper employees know this assembly line well. Every year at our Day of Caring, over 500 Memphis employees don green “Proud to Be IP” shirts and head out into the field to donate their time to the community by filling boxes for local foodbanks with donated canned goods and household essentials, such as diapers and feminine care products. This initiative, called “Box Out Hunger,” is our way of ensuring food security is never far from the minds of our employees and communities.

Donations take many forms. It’s become a point of pride and competitive spirit among our mills, which operate all around the United States. Sometimes it’s a turkey drive around Thanksgiving, to ensure IP neighbors in need are not left out of the holidays. Sometimes it’s rallying at our mills to distribute hundreds of gallons of fresh water. In September 2022, the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia opened its doors for the first time. Two months later, International Paper's Franklin Mill team completely stocked its shelves in one day, totaling 13,000 pounds of food.  

In December 2022, International Paper made a $105,000 donation to Feeding America®. The donation is the result of our employee match program, and exceeds our annual $500,000 commitment to Feeding America®, the United States’ largest domestic hunger-relief organization. In addition to monetary support, International Paper will donate 250,000 corrugated boxes to ensure that Feeding America® can safely pack and distribute nonperishable food and supplies.

Our employees are passionate about supporting critical community needs, and we recognize that our boxes are essential for distributing food to people in need.

Feeding America set the bold goal to cut the current US food insecurity rate in half by 2030. “Our employees are passionate about supporting critical community needs, and we recognize that our boxes are essential for distributing food to people in need,” said Dr. Alissa Campbell Shaw, senior manager, Global Corporate Social Responsibility and Community Engagement, International Paper. “Our employees and our boxes are helping improve the ability of food banks to serve communities around the U.S.”