When the August wildfires first broke out on the island of Maui, the team behind the SPAM brand responded with a donation of cash and product with a retail value of more than $1,000,000 to directly help those impacted by the devastation. The donation included more than five truckloads of SPAM products — totalling over 264,000 cans.

As those truckloads were being delivered, the brand team also began selling specially designed T-shirts on its website, pledging 100% of all proceeds to the Aloha United Way Maui Fire Relief Fund. More than 5,000 shirts were sold within the first 48 hours.

To date, shirt sales have produced $160,000 in total proceeds, all of which were recently donated to the Aloha United Way and its Maui Fire Relief Fund. That cash donation will continue to aid the disaster-response effort, from providing hunger relief and transportation assistance, to supporting other services, like crisis counselling and healthcare consultation.

“We have an incredible fan base and knew they would want to help support the people of Maui with us,” said Jennesa Kinscher, senior brand manager of the SPAM brand. 

“We have the best fans around, so it should be no surprise that they showed up in such a large and meaningful way. We are beyond grateful to get to make this donation on their behalf.”

Hormel Foods has long supported disaster-relief efforts through partners, including Convoy of Hope and World Central Kitchen, among others, contributing product and financial resources that have been used to help those affected by natural disasters and food insecurity.

Hawaii consumes more than 7 million cans of SPAM products every year, more than any other U.S. state. The genesis of the islanders’ love for SPAM products dates back to World War II, when the luncheon meat was served to GIs. By the end of the war, SPAM products were a part of the local culture and today remain a popular comfort food.