ROANOKE, Va. — GE (NYSE: GE) is donating $3,000 to Roanoke Area Ministries (RAM), which will help provide the area’s homeless and poverty-stricken with 11,000 meals in the months to come.
GE’s donation is being made on behalf of its 750 employees located at the company’s Salem facility, where industrial controls are designed and manufactured. A cross-functional group including leadership, engineers and production employees from the plant selected the organization for the donation.
“GE is proud to support RAM as it continues to provide much-needed assistance to the hungry, homeless and poverty-stricken in our community,” said Craig Strong, plant manager of the Salem facility. “GE has a strong legacy of giving back to the communities where our employees live and work. This financial donation of $3,000 is one more example of how we are extending this legacy.”
In April, GE contributed $3,500 to the Virginia Museum of Transportation to support its educational outreach efforts and develop future exhibits. Earlier this month, GE donated $4,000 to the Salvation Army’s Turning Point program ‹ the area’s largest secure shelter for domestic violence victims and their children. The donation will help Turning Point significantly improve the living quarters for their residents and to offset the cost of food.
GE’s most recent charitable contribution will help RAM achieve its mission of providing safe shelter, nutritious lunches and emergency financial aid to those in need. RAM also offers laundry services, clothing and hygiene items upon request as well as support on issues concerning housing, veterans’ assistance, employment and mental health.
“I’ve been serving lunches at RAM for nearly 10 years and it’s been an extremely rewarding experience for me,” said Greg Morton, engineering manager at GE Oil & Gas and leader of the volunteer efforts at GE’s Salem facility. “It’s so important that we, as part of GE, do what we can to support the organization’s growth. I’ve seen first-hand what a difference it makes in the community,” he added.
In 2014, RAM provided a safe place for more than 3,100 homeless or poverty-stricken people and served close to 44,000 meals. It also provided more than $200,000 in financial aid to help more than 5,300 clients with their utility bills, rent, medical and prescription costs.
“We are so thankful for GE’s generosity,” said Debbie Denison, executive director or RAM. “We hope GE’s kindness will encourage others to assist with our efforts to alleviate homelessness and hunger in the Roanoke Valley.”
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