Cargill Turkey & Cooked Meats

Cargill Inc. wants its workers to be as charitable as possible with its money.

Cargill, which is based in Minneapolis, donated about $58 million worldwide in 2015. The company’s Springdale branch was part of the action, donating $100,000 in cash and $50,000 in other contributions.

The Springdale branch has a Cargill Cares Council made up of employee volunteers, led by a seven-person leadership committee. Cargill gives the council a set amount of money to distribute to what the council considers worthy causes, the only criteria being the donations should be made to organizations promoting food, the environment or STEM education.

This past year, Springdale’s Cargill Cares Council contributed to organizations such as the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank, EOA Children’s House and the Nature Conservancy. In November, it donated 30,000 pounds of turkey to area food banks.

Many of the contributions Cargill makes consist of food given to nonprofits that are holding events.

“I’m passionate about the food banks,” said Shane Acosta, general manager of Springdale’s Cargill operations. “They’re a great cause. It’s unbelievable the amount of poverty and people who need food. We are a food company so it’s a natural fit.”

Acosta makes it clear that he doesn’t make any decisions for the council, which has full autonomy within the company’s guidelines. He believes the council’s activities strengthen the company while they help out the community. “Cargill has always had strong ethics and promoted giving back to the communities where they live and work,” Acosta said. “It’s part of our culture. It makes people proud to work for Cargill.”