Well, the need was great, but the actions of the community were greater and once again:
The 25th annual KVOE Drive for Food gathered over 38,000 items to fill both the Salvation Army Food Pantry and Emporia Spartan Stop Thursday. As KVOE News had noted leading up to the drive, the need within the pantry was great, with Hadden saying that without Thursday’s donations, the shelves would have likely been wiped out completely.
The need was also tremendous at Spartan Stop, with organizer Heather Wagner saying it has been “overwhelming.” Like Hadden, Wagner says the increased need over the past several months has much to do with the steadily rising cost of living.
Following the drive and the refilling of the shelves, Captain Hadden called this year’s drive an exciting day for their organization.
Wagner stated the donations collected Thursday will likely keep them stocked through mid-spring.
Thursday’s total came from a range of businesses and individuals, with residents again texting or calling in their addresses and leaving donations out for KVOE staffers Thursday morning. Also, USD 253 Emporia Public Schools, Good’s Cash Saver and Emporia’s various banking institutions, who engaged in a battle of the banks, all helped contribute a significant portion of the final total.
KVOE General Manager Ron Thomas commended the community for once again stepping up and helping meet the demand.
Looking back on the last 25 years of packing the pantry, Thomas says the drive has evolved far beyond his wildest expectations.
In comparison to prior years, Thursday’s total outpaced the last three drives and brought in nearly 1,000 items more than the 2025 drive.
Photos By Tagan Trahoon and Ron Thomas/KVOE News
