Every Shift Counts: Associates Fueling Community Upliftment
Empowering Communities Through Food Security and Family Support
The Golden State Foods (GSF) Foundation, a non-profit based in the U.S., continues to show how corporate social responsibility can be genuinely ingrained in the company culture. Using its unified associates and regional operations, the Foundation is driving impactful social change–especially through its Hawai’i-based subsidiary, Quality Custom Distribution (QCD), which has been pivotal in supporting local families and food insecurity in the Islands.
A Strong Commitment to CSR from the Ground Up
Established in 2002, the GSF Foundation operates with a clear mission: to improve the quality of life for children and families in need. What sets it apart is its associate-led and associate-funded model. Staff at GSF voluntarily contribute a portion of their salaries to sustain the Foundation’s work, making it a truly employee-driven initiative.
In Hawai’i, QCD operates with a lean but highly committed team of 90 associates across multiple locations, all of whom play an active role in the Foundation’s efforts. “Without our associates, this foundation wouldn’t be funded,” says Carl Guhl, Regional Distribution Manager and local GSF Foundation Treasurer, who has served with the company for over 37 years.
Focused Programs with Measurable Impact
The Foundation’s flagship Focus on Food initiative has distributed the equivalent of 4.35 million meals to food-insecure families across the U.S. In Hawai’i alone, local efforts have contributed over 35,000 meals, supported by both local donations and matched funding from the national GSF Foundation.
Beyond food relief, the Foundation organizes a range of community programs, including:
- Backpack Drives for schoolchildren
- Adopt-a-Family initiatives during the holiday season through Helping Hands Hawai’i
- Project Visitation, a quarterly event allowing foster children to reunite with siblings
- Ongoing collaborations with Ronald McDonald House Charities Hawai’i
“Project Visitation is close to my heart,” shares Guhl. “It was born out of a local idea, but supported nationally. That’s the beauty of our model—we blend national initiatives with local creativity.”
A Rapid Response to Crisis
Following the horrific fire in Lahaina, Hawai’i in 2023 – the Hawai’i GSF/QCD team acted quickly to respond. They rerouted perishable inventory, provided clothing and essentials to Maui, and continued providing regular food distributions. Additionally, the Foundation contributed a $1,600 grant to the Maui Food Bank, while maintaining uninterrupted services to clients like McDonald’s and Starbucks.
“We’ve held weekly relief activities since the disaster and continue to support the community quarterly,” Guhl noted, underscoring their sustained commitment.
Human Values at the Core of Business
For GSF Hawai’i Foundation Chair Amy McAngus, one experience stands out vividly: helping a grandmother and two young children who were living out of a school bus in Waiʻanae. “Just to bring them essentials and see their joy was overwhelming. That moment captures what we stand for,” she reflects.
According to McAngus, the Foundation’s strength lies in its reach—33 locations across the U.S.—and the collective support from associates nationwide. “It’s not just our Hawai’i team. Our colleagues across the country stood with us during the Maui fires.”
A Culture Rooted in Purpose
For both McAngus and Guhl, the Foundation is more than philanthropy—it defines the ethos of Golden State Foods. “The Foundation represents the dignity of all people,” says McAngus. “It’s the creed we live by.”
Guhl echoes the sentiment: “What’s kept me here for nearly four decades is not just the work—it’s the values we share, the customers we serve, and the people I work with every day.”
https://www.goldenstatefoods.com/
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