NEW BERN, N.C. (12/10/2021) – The International Paper Foundation has awarded a $5,000 grant to The Filling Station, Inc., to help purchase needed materials and appliances for the new teaching kitchen. This grant is just one example of International Paper’s commitment to the company’s signature causes, which include education, hunger, health and wellness, disaster relief and initiatives that improve our planet. The company is committed to addressing critical community needs where our employees live and work.
This funding will help The Filling Station, Inc. build a state of the art Teaching Kitchen and offer partnerships with N.C. Cooperative Extension of Jones County and the American Heart of Association.
“In addition to being a leader in reducing food waste, we want to impact the health system in a positive way by educating our clients on how to create beautiful meals to nourish their whole body.”
Mary Ann LeRay, Executive Director
“At International Paper, we believe our company cannot succeed if our communities do not succeed,” said Catherine Burgess, communications coordinator, New Bern Mill. “We are proud to support The Filling Station as they make a positive impact on hunger and health and wellness throughout Jones County.”
About The Filling Station, Inc.
The Filling Station, a dream born out of a long vacant, propane company building, opened its doors on August 28, 2017. Why the Filling Station name? During a walk-through of the building, someone noticed a red hazardous material warning sign with a flame and the number 1075, the DOT classification for propane. The group discovered that Psalm 107:5 read: “They were hungry and thirsty; their lives were slipping away.” A new mission was launched and it was called “The Filling Station” to refer to the building’s prior use as well as to its new purpose. Our mission is to assist with filling unmet needs in the areas of Nutrition, Education, and Connection serving the residents of Jones County. As of December 2021, the Food Pantry serves 700-800 households monthly, provides educational/nutritional backpacks to over 250 children and offering a Human Resources Development Computer Lab made possible through a partnership with Lenoir Community College. More information, visit our website: fillingstation1075.com
About International Paper
International Paper (NYSE: IP) is a leading global producer of renewable fiber-based packaging and pulp products with manufacturing operations in North America, Latin America, North Africa and Europe. We produce packaging products that protect and promote goods, and enable worldwide commerce, and pulp for diapers, tissue and other personal hygiene products that promote health and wellness. We are headquartered in Memphis, Tenn. and employ approximately 38,000 colleagues. Net sales for 2020 were $21 billion*. In Russia, the Company has a 50/50 joint venture, Ilim Group, the country's largest integrated manufacturer of pulp and paper and its largest foreigndomestic alliance in the forestry products sector. For more information about International Paper, our products and global citizenship efforts, please visit internationalpaper.com.
*Inclusive of our former pulp and paper mill in Kwidzyn, Poland, which was sold on August 6, 2021, and our former global papers business, which became a standalone, publicly traded company on October 1, 2021.