How Ardent Mills Volunteers Support Their Senior Neighbors

Looking Out for Each Other

Snow was falling when Tom Herricks called a senior on his Meals on Wheels route to let her know he and another volunteer would arrive in about 10 minutes.

Though the senior was almost 90 years old, she offered to come outside for her meal so they wouldn’t have to walk through the snow.

Tom chuckled at the kindness behind her offer. The person they had come to help was looking out for them, too.

Moments like these keep Tom coming back. With each delivery, he gets to know his neighbors a little better — who likes to chat; who needs lunch placed within arm’s reach due to limited mobility; who might try to save him a walk through the snow.

“The seniors are always very appreciative that we stop by,” Tom said. “We might be the only contact they have with people that day.”

Making Service Part of the Workweek

At Ardent Mills, the largest flour-milling and grain-ingredient company in North America, giving back is part of the company’s culture. Each April, a month of service encourages employees to lend a hand in the communities where they live and work.

In 2018, that spirit of service inspired Tom, an administration manager, to find a way for him and his colleagues to help their neighbors year-round. He reached out to Kenosha Area Family and Aging Services, Inc. (KAFASI), the local Meals on Wheels provider in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and within a matter of weeks, his Ardent Mills team began delivering meals to homebound seniors.

They haven’t stopped since.

Today, five Ardent Mills employees help with deliveries, and Tom’s wife, Sherri, often joins him. They deliver meals on Mondays and Wednesdays, and take on extra routes when KAFASI needs more help. In the past year, the Kenosha team has volunteered nearly 200 hours.

“Their employees don’t just volunteer once or twice,” said Rhonda Beucher, Meals on Wheels manager at KAFASI. “They have become a real dependable part of the team.”

Nourishing the Communities They Call Home

Tom’s Kenosha team reflects Ardent Mills’ emphasis on serving others with respect, inclusion and empathy. Through its Access to Nutrition program, the company partners with national organizations like Meals on Wheels America that help people get the nutritious food they need.

“We often say we’re not just milling flour, we’re nourishing the world,” said Sheryl Wallace, CEO of Ardent Mills. “To us, that means investing not only in our products, but also in the people and communities that help them thrive.”

Ardent Mills encourages employees to put that commitment into practice by volunteering. In Kenosha, supportive plant leadership and flexible scheduling make it possible for Tom and his coworkers to fit meal deliveries into their workweek.

“These experiences strengthen our communities while reinforcing a shared sense of purpose across our organization,” Wallace said. “They remind us of the impact we can have when we come together in service of something larger than ourselves.”

Getting to Know the People Behind the Doors

For Tom and his coworkers, that shared purpose starts with getting to know the people on their route. With each visit, they learn more about their neighbors’ needs and the small things they can do to help.

For one woman whose limited mobility keeps her in bed most of the day, they place lunch on a tray within reach and make sure she has something to drink. For a man who is blind, they describe what is in his meal.

They also look for little ways to help. For instance, when one older gentleman couldn’t figure out his new coffee maker, Tom showed him how to use it.

Taking time to chat with their clients helps the Ardent Mills team spot signs that someone needs extra support. Back at work, they compare notes: Did someone seem unwell today? Were uneaten meals piling up in the fridge?

If they’re concerned, they either address the need immediately or contact KAFASI, the local Meals on Wheels provider.

Tom sees each delivery as a way to pay it forward, offering the kind of support he hopes he can count on someday. “In the event I ever need help down the line, I certainly hope that there are people around that’ll volunteer.”

For now, he plans to keep showing up for his neighbors.

“As long as I’m continuing to work,” he said “I plan to continue on with this mission.”