Just in time for #GivingTuesday, Top 40 supplier Evans Manufacturing (asi/52840) is the latest promo firm to use its manufacturing capability to help its community during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Garden Grove, CA-based company donated to two local food banks: Bracken’s Kitchen and the Orange County Food Bank. Bracken’s Kitchen received 10,000 face masks and 500 insulated lunch bags. “During this major health crisis affecting our community, we are so grateful for the donation of face masks from Evans Manufacturing,” Bill Bracken, founder and culinary director of Bracken’s Kitchen, said in a press release.

[At left] Bill Bracken, founder and culinary director of Bracken’s Kitchen, and Alan Vaught, CEO and owner of Evans Manufacturing.

“Bracken’s Kitchen mission since 2013 is through food rescue, culinary training, and our community feeding program to help underprivileged individuals and families. Our work has given us a unique position to partner with a network of support organizations, like the Community Action Partnership of Orange County, to assure the 10,000 face masks will be given to people and families in the most need of protection from COVID-19.”

Alan Vaught, CEO and owner of Evans Manufacturing, said his respect for Bracken’s vision, commitment and accomplishments is boundless. “He saw there are significant levels of food insecurity that exist within Orange County, CA and he set out to use his vast experience as a nationally renowned chef to make a difference and feed the hungry,” Vaught said. “Evans Manufacturing is proud to provide face masks to Bracken’s Kitchen individuals and families, and we are very happy that their network of non-profit groups will help get the face masks to those who need them most in the surrounding communities.”

The Orange County Food Bank received 38,000 face masks. “In June of 2020 due to the coronavirus outbreak, the Orange County Food Bank increased the pounds of food distributed by 59% over last year,” said Kristin Kvesic, donated food program manager of Orange County Food Bank. “By August 2020 we served 1 million people affected by the economic downturn caused by COVID-19. Working with more than 300 local non-profit organizations in Southern California to distribute 38,000 Evans Manufacturing face masks, we know this generous donation will have an immeasurable positive impact fending off this disastrous virus for thousands of at-risk families in our communities.”

According to Vaught, the Orange County Food Bank is dedicated to providing resources, from food to shelter, to individuals and families in the most critical need within its surrounding cities. “The Orange County Food Bank and their food supply, rental assistance, and homelessness prevention partners assures that the 38,000 donated Evans face masks will be distributed to front-line workers and the most at-risk people,” Vaught said.

With reported 2019 North American promotional product revenue of $53 million, Evans Manufacturing ranked 32nd on Counselor’s latest list of the 40 largest suppliers in the industry.