Sonic Innovations President Paul Wennerholm and staff members present check to Jim Pugh, executive director of Utah Food Bank.

Sonic Innovations Inc, Salt Lake City, has this week donated $10,000 to its local Feeding America network member food bank.

Paul Wennerholm, the company’s president, gave the $10,000 check to the Utah Food Bank, the local Feeding America member, at the nonprofit’s Salt Lake City location. Sonic employees also participated in an office food drive and volunteered their time working in the food bank warehouse.

“Sonic has an international presence and provides hearing care services and solutions in more than 25 countries, but as an American company we can’t overlook the need of so many in our own country this holiday season,” says Sam Westover, the company’s CEO. “That is why we decided to do things differently this year by donating $10,000 to Feeding America through our local food bank in the name of our employees, associates, and partners, in lieu of buying holiday gifts.

"Feeding America is the nation’s leading domestic hunger-relief charity, and we felt their mission to feed America’s hungry and engage our country in the fight to end hunger was a great cause for us to support,” he added.

“Our partner food pantries that we serve are reporting a 35% increase in requests for food assistance over last year,” said Jim Pugh, executive director of Utah Food Bank. "This $10,000 donation will help provide over 30,300 meals for individuals and families in need.”

“Our hope is to inspire other companies we work with to join us in supporting Feeding America and reach out to their local food bank this holiday season,” says Westover.

Sonic Innovations has international offices and manufacturing centers worldwide. In conjunction with their distributor partners, it has provided hearing care services and solutions in more than 25 countries and the company’s partners have prescribed more than 1 million Sonic hearing instruments. Sonic is part of the Otix Global Inc family.

Utah Food Bank is a network member of Feeding America and provides food to a statewide network of 125 emergency food pantries and agencies statewide. Last fiscal year, Utah Food Bank distributed 22.4 million pounds of food, the equivalent of over 17.5 million meals for families and individuals in need. It also operates 19 Kids Cafe sites, 2-1-1 Information, and referral and services for seniors. For more information, call (801) 978-2452 or visit the Web site.

[Source: Sonic]