Cargill: A 24-Year Partnership Strengthening SOS Meals on Wheels

Every day, community organizations rely on local businesses that see philanthropy not as an obligation, but as an investment in their neighbors’ wellbeing. Few partnerships embody this better than the one between SOS Meals on Wheels and Cargill.

Cargill’s dedication to SOS Meals on Wheels runs deep—the company has funded our organization since the year 2000, demonstrating a remarkable quarter-century commitment to our mission. In 2024 alone, Cargill made a transformative $30,000 grant that helped us fill a critical funding gap, enabling the delivery of 10,000 partially subsidized meals to older adults in our community. Their dedication to our longevity was also evident through their sponsorship of our 60th anniversary, a tangible investment in the enduring strength of our organization.

While Cargill operates globally in 70 countries with over 155,000 employees, its local roots are strong. The Newark office manages a major salt manufacturing facility, harvesting approximately 450,000 tons of salt annually for uses ranging from road safety and water conditioning to food production. “The salt business is cool because it goes up and down the supply chain,” said Emily Ryan, Senior Land Resource Project Manager, who also leads community involvement for the Newark office.

Like SOS, Cargill has a deep, firsthand understanding of the importance of food and nutrition in our society. Much of their philanthropy focuses on organizations addressing food insecurity. Beyond SOS, Cargill has supported Tri-City Volunteers, participated in Lunar New Year events, and sponsored Second Harvest of Silicon Valley on the Peninsula.

Passionate about environmentalism and access to natural spaces, Cargill has partnered with East Bay Parks on accessible community events. They are sponsors of Fremont Pride and volunteers at Newark Days.

“One nice side benefit of this sort of involvement is that it fosters good relationships within the community,” Emily said. “People know we’re engaged. It’s heartwarming to hear that people appreciate our participation and our employees feel proud to know we are engaged in the local community.”