Spam Makes A Massive Donation To Help Those Affected By The Maui Fires
The recent Lahaina wildfire on Hawaii's second-largest island of Maui has had devastating effects. At least 110 people have died, which is the highest death toll from a single fire in the U.S. in more than a century. As residents struggle to pick up the pieces, there is an ongoing need for assistance to the survivors of this catastrophe. Citing a longstanding "special relationship between the people of Hawaii and the brand," the maker of Spam, Hormel Foods Corporation, has announced a recent donation of more than a 264,000 cans of the famous processed pork product being sent to the impacted area.
This is just the latest in an ongoing effort by the company to help those affected by the Lahaina fire. According to the press release, Spam has donated over $1 million in the form of cash and food, and designed a special tee-shirt, the proceeds of which are being donated to Aloha United Way's Maui Fire Relief Fund. In addition, Hormel is matching donations raised for a local food bank.
The history of this special relationship
Spam, a processed meat consisting of pork shoulder and spices (originally billed as "spiced ham") has been around since 1937. The popularity of the product soared during World War II because of its lengthy shelf life, which in turn helped popularize Spam in American GI outposts like Guam and Hawaii. By war's end, Hawaiians had absorbed Spam into their culture as well as their cuisine. Today, it's considered a delicacy and commonly served with meals. One popular Hawaiian dish, Spam musubi, is a kind of sushi made with pan-fried Spam, nori, rice, mirin, and soy sauce.
If you're interested in assisting Spam in their Maui relief efforts, you can buy the specially-designed "Spam Brand Loves Maui" tee-shirt and stay current with their nonprofit partners at Convoy of Hope. The rebuilding effort in Maui is certain to be protracted, but hungry people have to eat now. Every little bit helps.