Annual food drive broadens competition
The annual Washington County Farm Bureau food drive to benefit the Greater Washington County Food Bank has long promoted a friendly competition among 4-H club members to see which club could raise the most food and household product donations. This year’s drive seeks to run a similar contest among the county’s libraries, and both the clubs and libraries would be eligible for prize money in an amount yet to be determined.
Food drive coordinator Don Carter, in a presentation Thursday to the Washington County commissioners, also told of a second addition to this year’s food drive, which is scheduled for the months of February and March.
To encourage gardeners to donate fresh vegetables to the 5,200 families served by the food bank, Carter said Seedway of Hall, N.Y., a subsidiary of Growmark Inc. of Bloomington, Ill., has donated more than 250 pounds of seeds to the drive to yield harvests and grow flowers to attract bees to pollinate the crops.
Pam Paletta, 4-H youth development educator at the Washington County Cooperative Extension, said Thursday of Carter, “He gave us some seeds already and he has more coming.” She planned to distribute some free seeds at a meeting Thursday night, and she’s looking forward to having her 4-H members plant vegetables at the Washington County Fairgrounds, where those enrolled in the master gardeners program will help the youth. Individual members also will have an opportunity to plant and care for backyard gardens. Last year, 4-H club members were responsible for securing 5,900 pounds of food.
“The kids did an outstanding job,” said Carter, who will be soliciting money from local businesses for the monetary prizes to be given to the top 4-H club and library. He does not intend to seek more than $200 from each business.
Carter said there has been a 75 percent increase in the need for free food in Washington County. “Thirty percent of those served are children,” he noted of the families coming to the county’s 39 neighborhood food pantries. He also made a plea for people to volunteer their time at either the food bank or pantries.
Carter’s goal this year is 12,000 pounds of food, besting last year’s collection of 11,611 pounds. He reminded those attending the commissioners meeting that the food drive will be a feature of Washington County Agricultural Days March 13 and 14 at Washington Crown Center mall.
The commissioners thanked Carter for the years he has coordinated the food drive and gave him a certificate of congratulations.
Carter said anyone who needs information on participating in this year’s food drive can call him at Eighty Four Agway, where he works, at 724-222-0600, or contact him via email at doncarter1361@yahoo.com.