The 22nd annual KVOE Drive For Food once again saw a tremendous response from the Emporia Community and once again:
KVOE Station Manager Ron Thomas says the Emporia community has continuously seen the need for food donations over the last two decades. He says without the high level of support from the community and the significant involvement of local organizations and businesses, the drive could not have the impact it does year after year.
Once again donations go to support the Salvation Army of Emporia Food Pantry and Emporia High School Spartan Stop, both of whose shelves were extremely bare ahead of Thursday. Salvation Army Captain Mylie Hadden says walking in and seeing the number of items in the pantry nearly left her speechless.
The Salvation Army serves right around 30 families per week and Hadden says Thursday’s haul will help see them through the winter season, which is typically one of the highest periods of demand. The Spartan Stop is currently serving around 15 students per week, and that number is constantly growing according to Spartan Stop Director Heather Wagner.
Wagner says she’s confident that donations from this year’s drive for food will help get them well into next year.
In addition to staff at KVOE, the drive for food once again saw support from Thomas Transfer and Scout Troop 157. Additionally, several local businesses and entities served as drop-off points for the drive including:
*Newman Regional Health – Entrance C or Entrance F
*Bluestem Farm and Ranch – 2611 W Hwy 50
*LCAT – 402 Commercial #205
*ESB Financial – 7th & Merchant
*ESB Financial – 12th & Industrial
*High Plains Wellness – 1211 Stanton St
*Good’s Cash Saver – 2703 W. Hwy 50
*Country Mart – 1020 Merchant
*First Church of the Nazarene – 2931 W. 24th Ave
Also, USD 253 Emporia’s Timmerman and Village Elementary Schools participated in the drive generating over several thousand non-perishable food items. KVOE thanks everyone who donated to the 22nd annual Drive for Food which brought in a grand total of 29,482 items.
Photos by Tagan Trahoon and Ron Thoms/KVOE News and Salvation Army Cpt. Mylie Hadden
