Last week, United Way of Reno County put out a last-minute call to our workplace partners and community friends to help support the Reno County Food Bank during the ongoing SNAP crisis. The response was fast, generous, and exactly what makes this community special.
In just seven days, our partners rallied and collected 6,800 pounds of food and $310 in donations to help keep the food bank’s shelves stocked.
“This community never hesitates to show up for each other,” said Lacey Mills, CEO of United Way of Reno County. “We’re really fortunate to live in a place where people jump in to help their neighbors, especially in moments like this. This is just one small example of how our community has come together over the last several weeks. Our friends of United Way are always eager to help, and when we reached out, they immediately got to work. I also love that this effort brought more attention to the vital work the Reno County Food Bank does every day, and why moving into a bigger building through their capital campaign is so important.”
The idea for the food drive came during a conversation with community partners who were talking about how each organization could “show up” for local families during this difficult time. A quick email to United Way partners turned into a weeklong push that made a huge impact.
United Way also wants to recognize the City of Hutchinson, whose team helped pick up and deliver the donations. Many people volunteered without a second thought, making the effort run smoothly from start to finish.
Participating Organizations and Donations
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Reno County – 722 lbs
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Hutchinson Public Library – 121 lbs
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Hutchinson Clinic – 435 lbs
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DCI – 597 lbs
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Adams Brown – 130 lbs
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Superior Boiler – 489 lbs
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Heartland Credit Union – 400 lbs
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Dillon Credit Union – 111 lbs
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ONEOK – 259 lbs
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The Wesley – 451 lbs
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Ad Astra Radio – 268 lbs
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Cargill – 158 lbs
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Lawrence Paper – 947 lbs
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Bretz Injury Law – 39 lbs
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Hutchinson Community College – 844 lbs
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Conklin Automotive Group – 453 lbs
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Healthy Families – 117 lbs
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Kansas State Fair – 79 lbs
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Trinity United Methodist – 180 lbs
These businesses and organizations will be recognized at United Way’s Business Awards Ceremony this spring.
United Way is currently in the middle of its annual campaign, working to raise $1.35 million to support programs and services across Reno County.
For more information about how to get involved, visit www.uwrenocounty.org.