Georgia Chapter Leads a Widespread Community Food Drive
In the heart of Effingham County, GA, a food drive initiative has been changing lives and bringing the community together for the last seven years.
WoodmenLife Chapter 1770, in partnership with Effingham County Schools, has been hosting a community food drive competition that not only fills pantries but also brings together students, parents and teachers in the spirit of giving.
Evelyn Davis, the chapter’s treasurer said the impact of the food drive goes far beyond the numbers.
“It’s so nice to see how our community comes together, especially the younger generation, to make a real difference in people’s lives.”
Friendly Competition
Schools throughout the district compete to see who can collect the most food. Students are asked to bring in nonperishable food items, and schools encourage participation with incentives like pizza parties and other special activities.
Davis noted that the competition really drives engagement.
“It’s amazing to see how creative the schools get in motivating their students to participate,” she said. “But, at the end of the day, everyone knows they’re part of something bigger than just winning a prize.”
The weeklong competition was held in September. On the Monday after the food drive, the chapter teamed up with Manna House Ministries, a local food pantry, to visit every participating school to collect the donations.
This year, the food drive’s total broke last year’s record: Students brought in 21,196 pounds of food and $17,499.
When the monetary donations are used to purchase even more food, at a rate of 10 pounds per dollar, the grand total reaches a whopping 196,186 pounds. That’s 98 tons!
A Growing Impact
The school that brings in the most food based on its student population is awarded a $1,000 prize from the chapter. The runner-up receives $500.
Davis explains how truly remarkable it is that the project has grown over the years.
“These students are learning the power of community, and that’s a lesson that goes far beyond any classroom.”
The food collected for Manna House Ministries is distributed throughout the community.
“We feel like there is a great need, and this food pantry is a very good organization,” Davis said. “Our goal is not just to collect food, but to help those in need who will continue to grow and benefit our community for years to come.”
To learn more about how you can get involved in community events with WoodmenLife, visit WoodmenLife.org/Awards.
Read More
Georgia Chapter Supports Families Facing Cancer
WoodmenLife Ups Its Game to Help Strike Out Hunger
Nebraska Chapter Helped When a Local Family Faced Homelessness
WEB824
Share
[easy-social-share]
We’ve been helping to protect the financial future of families like yours, making a difference in hometowns across America and honoring our country since 1890. As a not-for-profit life insurance company, we put money back into the community. We’re here when you need us most.
Learn More About WoodmenLife
