Holland America Line President and CEO and Seabourn Chairman Stein Kruse joined employees during the Seattle-based cruise companies’ fifth annual community giving week at Northwest Harvest, an organization that feeds the hungry in Washington State.  

As part of annual holiday activities, more than 400 Holland America Line and Seabourn employees helped process and prepare more than 100,000 pounds of food for area food banks, shelters and meal programs. 

During the week of Dec. 3 through 7, employees volunteered for morning and afternoon shifts at the Kent, Wash. distribution center for Northwest Harvest. Kruse also presented Northwest Harvest with a monetary and grocery card donation totaling more than $2,700 on behalf of the cruise lines and their employees.

“Holland America Line and Seabourn are committed to being responsible community partners, and we’re honored to support a local organization that does such important work,” said Kruse. “Northwest Harvest affects so many lives and we commend them for ensuring that those who need it have a warm meal and don’t go to bed hungry.”

The 2012 donation marks the fifth consecutive year that Holland America Line and Seabourn have supported Northwest Harvest. Since 2008, approximately 2,500 employees have volunteered at the Kent location, in addition to giving food and monetary donations. 

Northwest Harvest executives estimate that company employees have helped sort more than half a million pounds of food over the years.

Northwest Harvest is Washington’s only statewide hunger relief agency. The organization supplies free food to a network of nearly 350 independent food banks and meal programs throughout the state. Relying on contributions from individuals, businesses, foundations and other organizations, 93 percent of Northwest Harvest’s total budget goes to food distribution. For more information contact www.northwestharvest.org