Trig’s celebrates 50 years with large food donation

By Eileen Persike

Editor

A Northwoods business has turned a milestone into an opportunity to make a big impact on food insecurity. Trygve and Tula Solberg opened the first Trig’s store 50 years ago in Land O’Lakes. Through the years Trig and Tula, along with their associates, have worked to fight hunger and give back to the communities they serve.

To that end, Trig’s associates reached out to their business partners to discuss what could be done to commemorate 50 years in business.

“Smithfield foods stepped up and offered to help us with this donation – a truckload of 40,000 pounds of assorted protein,” said Kindl Furtak, Trig’s director of marketing. “Through their partnership with feeding America, we’re helping to get it distributed to the local pantries that we service.”

The first stop Tuesday morning was the Rhinelander Area Food Pantry, where volunteers unwrapped the pallets and stacked the boxes in large refrigerators. Lakeland Food Pantry in Arbor Vitae was next.

“At Trig’s we understand that being a good neighbor means giving back to the communities we serve,” said Brad Brayshaw, senior director of operations for Trig’s. “We are proud to partner with Smithfield Foods to deliver this protein donation that will serve our communities in Rhinelander, Arbor Vitae, Minocqua, Woodruff, Eagle River, Tomahawk and others.”

The donation of mostly hams is the equivalent of more than 150,000 servings, and will be used to feed those facing food insecurity during the holiday season.