NEW BERLIN — On Tuesday, September 14, Chobani invited government officials to their facility in New Berlin to assist in packing 300,000 of their products onto trucks, which will be delivered to victims of Hurricane Ida, as well as Afghan refugees currently in Virginia and New Jersey.

"We packed the 'Cho truck' as we like to call it. It's the first of three trucks that we're sending with 300,000 products to neighboring areas in New York," said Chobani Chief Corporate Affairs Officer Cristina Alesci.

"To New York, to New Jersey, to Louisiana, for people impacted by Hurricane Ida. You know, there's still people who are displaced and trying to put their lives back together because of the hurricane. And at the same time, there are military bases in Virginia and New Jersey that are accepting and housing Afghan evacuees and we’re sending product there as well," she continued.

Products being sent include everything Chobani produces, from yogurt to probiotics, according to Alesci.

"We're sending the whole shebang. We're sending coffee, oat milk, coffee creamers, probiotic drinks, the whole kit and caboodle of what we make," she said. "Chobani, of course, people know and love us for our yogurt, but we're so much more than that now."

The donation marks just one of several of Chobani's philanthropic efforts. Since the start of the pandemic, Chobani has donated 8.5 million products to those in need, donated a new ambulance to the Village of Sherburne, supported the New Berlin firehouse and community center, and more, according to Alesci.

Chobani also partners with several organizations aimed at mitigating hunger, including Nourish New York, a milk buy-back program, Holiday Meals for Military, and they created a PB&J Food Bank batch of yogurt and donated all proceeds to Feeding America.

Alesci said giving back to the community is "very fundamental to who we are," and that it follows Chobani Founder and CEO Hamdi Ulukaya's vision.

"Giving back and shining a spotlight on these issues is core to who we are, because Hamdi's vision was to put people and community at the center of everything we do," Alesci explained. "That's exactly what we've been able to do, especially because we have a President, Dave Day, he runs things and lives that mission and lives those values. So we're lucky."

Recently appointed New York State Governor Kathy Hochul was in attendance to recognize Chobani's efforts, as well as urge other New York businesses to follow their lead.

"New York is a beacon of hope to people across the world, and Chobani's donation today highlights our generosity and spirit that are admired worldwide," she said. "I encourage all businesses and New Yorkers who wish to help to follow Chobani's lead and donate what they can spare to help support those who were in the path of Ida and evacuees from Afghanistan as they recover and resettle."

Ulukaya also made a statement, recognizing the many recent crises that have struck the world, and the necessity for generosity and care in this time.

"We've seen an incredible series of crises over the past three weeks - both natural and humanitarian, both domestic and global. As a food company, we know the value of nutritious food during a time of such great need and loss. There's still so much healing and rebuilding and resettling to do, we all need to do our part, as a company and state, to open our arms and hearts to ensure people are fed and cared for. Thank you, Governor Hochul, for leading by example and encouraging all New Yorkers to help their neighbors," he said.

Other government officials in attendance included the New York State Commissioner of Agriculture Richard A. Ball, New Berlin Mayor Peter Lennon, and The Center Executive Director Shelly Callahan. Chobani Vice President of Operations Nate Gundlach and Vice President of Corporate Affairs Mark Broadhurst were also present at the event.

"It meant a lot to me and my team that they were all here to show their support and lend their platforms to us," said Alesci. "I just feel like all of that is so important to see that people are recognizing what we're doing, not because we want credit for it, but because, again, we want to use our platform and what we're doing to hopefully inspire other people to do the same."

The truck packed full by officials Tuesday will be heading to Mamaronek, New York, which was heavily impacted by Hurricane Ida.

"That one's headed to Mamaronek, which is a part of Westchester that was heavily impacted by the storm. I was reading reports that there was 14 feet of water in certain parts, people got flooded out of their homes, unfortunately there was loss of life there," Alesci said. "So we'll be there later this week, I think tomorrow actually, to feed about 300 people there."

Alesci said that by giving this donation, Chobani is hoping to make an impact on the communities around them, and inspire others to do the same.

"We're hoping that by spotlighting what's happening, you know, in our communities and with the Afghan refugees, that we can inspire more people and more companies to do exactly what we're doing, which is give a little and it'll make a big impact," she said. "And if everybody gives a little, hopefully we can make a bigger impact."