Food Share collects $11K, 970 items
Bank Independent’s seventh-annual food drive – this year titled Feed a Family for $5 with Food Share – was a success, as Bank Independent received more than $11,776 in donations and 970 non-perishable food items.
According to Bank Independent, these donations will combine with the bank’s $10,000 debit card grocery match pledge for a total of $21,776 to be distributed among local food banks to go to families in need.
“The charities we support throughout the year through our Helping Hands initiatives provide vital assistance to families undergoing hardships,” said Macke Mauldin, president and CEO of Bank Independent. “Food Share allows us to focus our efforts and impact families by meeting their most basic needs. We’re grateful to the excellent local organizations who address these needs daily. We’re honored to partner with them through this drive and throughout the year.”
In 2020 Bank Independent worked directly with local food banks to support their immediate needs, in lieu of the usual Food Share campaign, because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The sixth annual Food Share drive, completed in 2019, drew more than $562 in cash donations and more than 9,850 non-perishable food items.
“We could never have anticipated the overwhelming, positive response to the Feed a Family for $5 campaign,” said Nikki Randolph, community engagement officer at Bank Independent. “While several businesses and private donors discreetly made large donations to the drive, the vast majority of cash donations were made $5 at a time either at one of our Bank locations or through our PayPal donation option online.
“Thanks to everyone’s generous donations, we’re able to feed over 5,000 families through Food Share collections.”
Samples of grocery lists showcasing how much food could be purchased with $5 were placed in the windows at Bank Independent drive-thru windows, which Randolph said helped move customers to make donations.
Donations will be distributed to local organizations that maintain food banks to fill emergency food needs. Franklin County’s portion will go to the Department of Human Resources.
Franklin County DHR’s Betsy Puckett said that that while Franklin families in need can apply for food stamps or other assistance programs, sometimes there is an urgent need or a family’s income might just barely exceed the limit to qualify for other food assistance programs. The support provided by Bank Independent’s Food Share helps meet those needs.
