2.02.2001 ET

(CSRwire) The devastation caused by India's Jan. 26 earthquake has struck a chord with many employees of Kellogg Company, who have started an effort to send relief to the thousands of victims of this disaster.

"This has really affected me personally, as I have family in the part of India that was hardest hit by the earthquake," said Nilang Patel, the company's director of supply chain. "It was very important for me to do what I could to help and I am pleased that many of my fellow employees have been stepping up to help as well."

The company has chosen to work with the Red Cross, which has already begun relief operations in India. Company representatives will collect employees' personal donations and ensure they are delivered to the Red Cross, along with a donation from Kellogg's Corporate Citizenship Fund of $25,000.

"Helping people through such hardships is consistent with Kellogg's social responsibility objectives," said Joe Stewart, Kellogg's senior vice president of corporate affairs. "In this situation, we have many employees in the United States with connections in India and we also have employees in India, working at our plant in Mumbai. We feel fortunate that our facilities weren't impacted, but we know thousands more were not as fortunate and we want to do what we can to support them." Kellogg's India plant has donated food products to the earthquake victims.

Providing disaster relief is a major part of Kellogg Company's global and community outreach. The company most recently sent over one million pounds of food to victims of natural disasters in El Salvador and Mozambique.

With sales of nearly $7 billion, Kellogg Company is the world's leading producer of cereal and a leading producer of convenience foods, including toaster pastries, cereal bars, frozen waffles, wholesome snacks, and meat alternatives. Kellogg recently announced that it has reached an agreement to acquire Keebler Foods Company. Keebler and its subsidiaries constitute the second largest cookie and cracker maker in the United States with annual sales of $2.7 billion.

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