Hillside Candy employee volunteer at Community Food Banko of New Jersey as part of the candy company's third annual community day event. Photo provided.

Hillside Candy LLC closed its plant for a day, and let all the employees step away from the office so they could volunteer at the Community Food Bank of New Jersey last week.

It was all part of the candy maker’s third annual community day event. The entire staff at the company — which makes GoLightly Sugar Free and GoNaturally/GoOrganic organic candies —  stored food and non-food items into proper containers to get them ready for delivery to those less fortunate.

Then, they ended the day with a barbeque, and handed out free candy to local residents. The Hillside, N.J.-based company says everyone involved has a collective sense that together they could make the world a better place.

Hillside Candy also recently recently received  SQF Level 2 Certification, making their manufacturing facility an accredited HACCP-based food safety plant.

The Safe Quality Food (SQF) code is  recognized by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI). SQF Certification is supported by an increasing number of U.S. and international retailers and foodservice providers. The audit process includes an in-depth evaluation of all food safety programs and verifies the supplier is adhering to their procedures.

Hillside Candy LLC is a family-owned, privately held business and is the corporate umbrella name for three brands of candy, as well as various private-label contracts.

GoLightly Sugar Free Candy, sweetened with Splenda, is one of the leading niche brands in the sugar-free candy category. Meanwhile, the GoNaturally/GoOrganic line, which is USDA-certified organic and nonGMO-certified, satisfies the emerging trend for products with all natural or organic ingredients. And, Hillside Sweets/Pick Your Color is  a portfolio of sugar-based hard boiled candy. All three brands are all Kosher-certified, gluten-free and made in the United States.