ThisWeek CW 09/19/2013
With the start of high school football season, the Canal Winchester Community Food Pantry is once again set to kick off its annual Football for Food project.
Football for Food caps two days of giving at Canal Winchester schools as part of a Pizza for Food campaign, Together, the two drives make up the pantry’s largest annual collection of food.
Last year’s campaigns brought in a combined total of 20,000 food items, nearly enough food to keep the pantry stocked through the end of the year, according to Canal Winchester Human Services Administrator Penny Miller.
“This is the largest annual campaign to benefit the Community Food Pantry program of Canal Winchester Human Services and we hope that the community will support this effort and equal, if not exceed, last year’s campaign,” Miller said. “The summer has proved to be a busy time for the pantry as children are out of school. Putting food on the table for many families is a challenge.”
Miller said August was the pantry’s busiest month to date, as it distributed 7,455 meals in that month alone. The pantry serves Canal Winchester, Lithopolis and underserved areas of Fairfield County within the Bloom Carroll school district.
“The statistics are staggering,” Miller said. “For the first time in the pantry’s history, we’re now serving more than 1,000 clients.”
Besides the Choice Pantry Project, which serves families and adults, the Community Food Pantry has initiated a Feeding our Future project, which served more than 100 children in its first week.
The Pizza for Food competition is being held through Sept. 16-19 for students attending Indian Trail and Winchester Trail elementary schools. Middle school and high school students in Canal Winchester will wrap up their competition Sept. 20.
Students are encouraged to bring in nonperishable food items for donation to the food pantry. The class that collects the most donations in each school will be treated to a pizza party.
Students and residents alike are encouraged to bring food donations in exchange for admission to the Canal Winchester-Westerville South football game the evening of Sept. 20.
“Football fans are encouraged to bring bags of food and household items,” Miller said. “Those that do not have food contributions will be charged the usual admission of $6 for adults or $4 for children.
“The proceeds of admission are then split between the athletic department and the pantry,” she said. “Tax-deductible cash donations may be made by donating checks, payable to Canal Winchester Human Services, on behalf of the Community Food Pantry.”
For more information about the event, or the food pantry, visit cwhumanservices.org or call 834-3888.