Archive Index  / Public Employees Set Record For "Feed The Need" Food Drive (posted: 12/19/11)

Source: County of Volusia
Contact: Joanne Magley, Community Information Manager

 

More than 34,000 pounds of food collected

 

More than 34,000 pounds of food has been donated by public employees from Volusia County Government, Daytona State College, Volusia County Schools, Volusia County Health Department, Daytona Beach, Daytona Beach Shores, DeBary, DeLand, Edgewater, Holly Hill, New Smyrna Beach, Orange City, Ormond Beach, Pierson, Ponce Inlet, Port Orange and South Daytona during the inaugural, countywide public employee food drive that’s been named Public Employees Feed The Need. That sets a record for 2011 food drive campaigns coordinated through Second Harvest Food Bank. The previous highest donor had collected 31,101 pounds.

The countywide total is actually 35,620 pounds after including 5,578 pounds distributed separately.

The Feed the Need food drive, the brainchild of County Manager Jim Dinneen and overseen by the county, took place Dec. 5 - 12 throughout Volusia County as a friendly competition between public employees of all organizations involved.

The food donation totals were announced during a presentation at Thursday’s county council meeting in DeLand. The City of Holly Hill collected the most food per full-time employee – 4,002 pounds from its 103 full-time employees-- which equates to 38.79 pounds per employee. Mayor Roy Johnson was presented with a championship trophy to keep until next year, when possibly a new winner is announced for the second annual Feed the Need food drive. All of the participating organizations received a plaque that will display donation totals for 2011 and beyond.

The food and funds will be given to food pantries, soup kitchens, senior centers, churches, and other nonprofit organizations that are working to fight hunger.