New Wakefield Research survey from Bob Evans Farms finds that
family mealtime is one of the sacrifices of military
personnel
NEW
ALBANY, Ohio, May 23, 2023
/PRNewswire/ -- In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month and
Military Appreciation Month, Bob Evans Farms, Inc., a leading
manufacturer of farm-fresh refrigerated dinner sides and breakfast
products, today announced a new partnership with the United Service
Organizations (USO) to support the mental well-being of military
members. The partnership builds on the company's commitment to
giving back to those who serve through its Our Farm
Salutes® program.
As part of this year's effort, Bob Evans Farms is working with
celebrity chef and U.S. Army veteran Andre
Rush to promote mental health awareness and the benefits of
bringing people together through food. Chef Rush is known for his
work advocating for military communities and mental health
services, including the 2,222 daily push-up regimen he completes in
honor of the 22 veterans lost to suicide each day.
"At Bob Evans Farms, we have a long history of supporting
military service members, veterans and their families," said
Mark Delahanty, Bob Evans Farms
president and CEO and U.S. Navy veteran. "Service can take a
serious mental toll on people. Our military heroes deserve robust
mental health support, and we're proud to contribute a small piece
to that by partnering with the USO."
"Frequent moves to unfamiliar environments, separation from home
and loved ones and more – service members and their loved ones face
unique stressors. Supporting their mental well-being through every
step of their military journey is paramount to keeping them
strong," said USO Chief Operating Officer and retired Rear Adm.
Alan Reyes. "The USO is grateful to
Bob Evans Farms for their partnership and commitment to the women
and men who serve and their families around the world."
Bob Evans Farms' partnership with the USO includes a
$125,000 donation and sponsorship of
the USO Chef's Table Experience, which occurred on May 3 at Fort Belvoir,
Va., where Chef Rush joined to share his story of
resilience. The quarterly event brings together a small group of
active-duty service members and their guests for a one-of-a-kind
world-class six-course dinner prepared by top military chefs from
each branch of the armed forces.
"I've dedicated my life to giving back and supporting the mental
health and wellness of our service members," said Chef Rush. "Food
has helped me and saved my life. It brings us together and connects
us to family and friends like nothing else. Having the opportunity
to share my passions and help others through efforts like this with
the USO and Bob Evans Farms is why I do what I do."
More than a meal
Numerous studies have found that
regular family meals offer a wide range of mental, physical and
social-emotional benefits, but a new Wakefield Research study from
Bob Evans Farms found that family mealtime is just one of the many
sacrifices of military members.
- Missing meals. Nearly 73% of active-duty military
parents often or always go two or more weeks without being able to
share a family meal, compared to 33% of civilian parents.
- A quick bite. Shockingly, nearly half (47%) of
active-duty military parents spend less than 10 minutes with their
families during mealtimes versus only 15% of civilian parents.
- Limited engagement. Therefore, it's not surprising that
more than 3 in 5 (63%) military members have at least sometimes
felt out of practice in how to engage with their families during
mealtimes, compared to only 44% of civilian parents. Furthermore,
active-duty military parents (76%) are more than three times as
likely as civilian parents (22%) to struggle often or always with
engaging during family mealtimes after prolonged periods of being
away.
- Off course. A consequence of abbreviated mealtime is not
having the chance to maintain strong bonds with families, as only
25% of military members identify maintaining family bonds as a
benefit of sharing meals, compared to an overwhelming 68% of
civilians.
- Soul soothing. One view of family meals that Americans
generally agree on is that they serve as a pick me up. The vast
majority of civilian families (89%) and military members (82%)
report that the simple act of sharing a meal with family helps them
feel less lonely or sad.
- Fulfilling times. Mealtime can also bring a satisfying
sense of togetherness. An overwhelming 94% of civilian families
agree they feel more connected to their loved ones after sharing a
family meal and 84% of military members feel the same.
Packaging for a cause
As part of the USO partnership
from July through September, select packages of Bob
Evans® dinner sides and breakfast products and
Owens® Sausage products will proudly turn purple to
symbolize all branches of the military and feature the Our Farm
Salutes and USO logos to raise awareness of the need for
services that support their mental well-being.
For more information and to find out how you can support the
USO's efforts, visit OurFarmSalutes.com. Consumers also can find
elevated comfort food recipes from Chef Rush on the website.
About Our Farm Salutes
Launched in 2016, the Bob Evans
Farms' Our Farm Salutes® program is focused on
supporting America's service members, veterans and their families
through volunteerism, strategic partnerships, grant opportunities,
awareness and donations. Since the program began, the company has
awarded more than $500,000 to
military causes and veteran-owned businesses through various Our
Farm Salutes initiatives.
About Bob Evans Farms, Inc.
For 75 years, Bob Evans
Farms has delivered delicious, quick-to-table, farm-inspired food
that makes mealtime a little bit easier and a lot more delicious.
We're proud to be the No. 1-selling refrigerated dinner sides*,
including many varieties of wholesome, feel-good favorites such as
mashed potatoes and macaroni and cheese, sold in grocery stores
across the country. We're also a leading producer and distributor
of sausage and bacon products, egg products including liquid eggs,
and frozen handheld breakfast items. In addition to our flagship
Bob Evans brand, our product portfolio includes Simply Potatoes,
Egg Beaters and Owens Sausage. Bob Evans Farms is based in
Columbus, Ohio, and is owned by
Post Holdings, Inc., a consumer-packaged goods holding company. For
more information about Bob Evans Farms, Inc., visit
www.bobevansgrocery.com.
About the USO
The USO strengthens America's military
service members by keeping them connected to family, home and
country throughout their service to the nation. At hundreds of
locations worldwide, we are united in our commitment to connect our
service members and their families through countless acts of
caring, comfort and support. The USO is a private nonprofit
organization, not a government agency. Our programs, services and
entertainment tours are made possible by the American people, the
support of our corporate partners and the dedication of our
volunteers and staff. To join us in this important mission and
learn more about the USO, please visit USO.org or follow us on
Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Editor's note regarding methodology: The Bob Evans Farms
Our Farm Salutes Survey was conducted by Wakefield Research among
1,000 nationally representative U.S. parents ages 25-45 and 500
U.S. active–duty military members and veterans, between April 28 and May 9, 2023, using an email
invitation and online survey. Data was weighted to ensure an
accurate representation of each audience.
Results of any sample are subject to sampling variation. The
magnitude of the variation is measurable and is affected by the
number of interviews and the level of the percentages expressing
the results. For the interviews conducted in this particular study,
the chances are 95 in 100 that a survey result does not vary, plus
or minus, by more than 3.1 percentage points for the parents' group
and 6.2 percentage points for the data of active-duty military and
veterans, from the result that would be obtained if interviews had
been conducted with all persons in the universe represented by the
sample.
- SOURCE: IRI Total US MULO Latest 52 W/E 2/26/23
Media Contact
Emma Mazour
emma.mazour@clynch.com
(612) 375-8532
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SOURCE Bob Evans Farms, Inc.
