Workers at Jayco, Inc., headquartered in Middlebury, collected more than $15,000 in five days for the worldwide relief activities for victims of the tsunami in Asia. And a matching contribution by the company meant that more than $31,000 has been donated to the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC), which is taking an active role I helping the Asian relief effort.

According to Derald Bontrager, Jayco president, the company challenged their 1,400 employees that it would match every employee dollar donated to the relief effort during the five day period from January 17 to 21, 2005. The employees accumulated $15,530.53, which was then matched by the company to make the contribution to MCC a total of $31,061.06.

“The tsunami catastrophe in Asia has touched the hearts of all Americans,” Bontrager said. “From the earliest days of our company here in Middlebury, the people of Jayco have understood the importance of reaching out to those in need – when one person suffers, we all suffer. I had no idea what to expect, but I am overwhelmed by the out-pouring of support to this enormous need. The response by the Jayco family of employees speaks volumes about the compassion that is part of their character.”

MCC said the money will be used to partially fund more than 22,000 relief kits which will be distributed by MCC associates working in the disaster area in Indonesia.

Posted on March 03, 2005