Operation Food Basket

In 2004, the holiday spirit remained stronger than ever and Operation Food Basket collected almost $53,000 from Xerox employees, The Xerox Foundation and outside organizations - exceeding its goal by 29 percent - to provide food baskets for almost 2,700 people. One hundred percent of collected funds are used to buy food for needy families.

"Our goal is to help those who fall through the cracks in our social systems. We know that many of these families would not be able to have food during the holidays without the help of Operation Food Basket," said Gary Mroczek, Xerox employee and one of the original core team members.

Every year Operation Food Basket increases its number of volunteers, money collected and support from outside organizations. Operation Food Basket is unique because of the total involvement of Xerox active and retired employees and other volunteers who provide the baskets. They are involved in every aspect of the project by collecting donations, buying and packaging the food, and delivering it directly to homes of families in need.

The program first started with $180 in the garage of Tony Carlisi, a retired Xerox Business Services employee, with just a few volunteers including Mroczek, who continues to serve as Operation Food Basket's campaign coordinator.

Today, more than 375 volunteers from Xerox and elsewhere use 6,000 square feet in the Xerox Print & Production Center in Henrietta, N.Y., to assemble the food baskets. The Center provides the facilities for the food packing, contributes printing of some campaign materials and all box labels, and works with Economy Paper to provide 1,200 customized boxes for food delivery and tissue paper for the families. Families receive food provisions sufficient for one week or more, including hams, canned goods, vegetables and other staples.

The families who receive the food are selected by two agencies, The House of Mercy Mission and The Finger Lakes Developmental Disabilities Service, both in Rochester. By the end of the annual Operation Food Basket campaign, an estimated 73,000 pounds of food will have been shared with the community. "I never would have thought when we started Operation Food Basket that it would not only continue, but continue to flourish 25 years later. Without the help of hundreds of dedicated volunteers and generous donors, this program would not be successful," Mroczek said. "This is truly a team effort, and I'm very proud to be a part of it."