Thousands of residents will have the opportunity to have meals this holiday season thanks to the work of some dedicated employees from a Tri-Cities business.

Borla Performance Industries recently concluded their monthly food drive for the holiday season with Second Harvest Food Bank and were able to donate 3,260 pounds worth of food.

“This was a company effort with our employees stepping up for those in need in our local area,” said Debbie Juszak, VP, Human Resources for Borla. “We were able to collect enough food for 2,717 meals.”

Second Harvest Food Bank, a nonprofit organization based out of Kingsport, serves the eight county region of Northeast Tennessee, including Carter, Greene, Hancock, Hawkins, Johnson, Sullivan, Unicoi and Washington counties.

According to information provided from the Second Harvest Food Bank website, the organization provided 9.2 million meals, 11 million pounds of food, for people in need throughout the region during the 2017 fiscal year.

Various departments from Borla joined together during the holiday season to fill 12 barrels, which were picked up Second Harvest Food Bank on Wednesday, Dec. 13.

“We strongly encourage all businesses and people of our community to consider giving back in some way or another,” Juszak recently told the Elizabethton Star. “We can make a difference in the life of someone who is struggling to make ends meet. A small gesture, such as giving to a food drive, can help to make sure no one goes without a basic need in life. This drive has proven that this way of thinking isn’t just one person’s mission, it is that of each of us collectively. We are proud to help our community and a local worthwhile cause such as Second Harvest Food Bank. We are also proud to say we ‘Borla’ aiding to end hunger in our local area.”

Visit Second Harvest’s website or call (423) 279-0430 to learn more about the organization’s goals in the region.