Community comes through in support of Whitley County United Way Day of Caring Community Food Drive
(Talk of the Town photo by Kelley Sheiss) The Whitley County United Way Day of Caring Community Food Drive drew to a close Tuesday, resulting in this large pile of donated items now awaiting distribution to local food pantries. The food, now being stored at the Peabody Public Library, will be divided up next week.
By Jennifer Zartman Romano
The flagship project of the 2008 Whitley County United Way Day of Caring, the Community Food Drive ended Tuesday – resulting in giant piles of food for residents in need and a proud feeling for all involved in the project.
In Columbia City, South Whitley and Churubusco, boxes and collection canisters were overflowing with canned goods, boxed items and an influx of financial support for the drive.
“I feel strongly that the community came through,” said Kelley Sheiss, a United Way board member who assisted with the coordination of the Community Food Drive.
“It is a difficult time with the economy the way it is and the fact that it is not a ‘usual’ time of year for a food drive.”
“The real success story is with the various companies and businesses such as SDI, Micropulse, STAR and others whose employees really stepped up the plate and contributed,” Sheiss added.
Local companies whose employees contributed in a significant way included Micropulse, Reelcraft, Autoliv, Precision Plastics, Warner Electric, Lathe Specialties, Oakview Tooling, Precimed and Pyrotek.
Next week, on the United Way Day of Caring, September 16, volunteers will divide up the collected food and deliver it to each of Whitley County’s 10 food banks. Funds will also be dispersed to each food pantry so that they might purchase perishable items such as fresh fruits and vegetables for those they serve.
The committee that oversaw the Day of Caring Community Food Drive was comprised of Donna Weber, Voni Kiebel, Kelley Sheiss, Jim Horne, Sally Maggart, Doug Wright, Jacie Worrick, Scott Potts, Linda Wood, June Keiser, MaryAnne Dickinson, Virgil Jackson, Sonya Rubrake, Patti Rethlake, Pat Hatcher, Kevin Snell, Larry Sutton, Angie Miller, Nancy Reiff, Dick Buchanan and Jennifer Zartman Romano.