By Trent Moore
When asked if the Cullman Cares and Shares food drive met its goal, organizer Ashley Reese couldn’t help but smile.
“That’s an understatement,” she said. “That’s a big understatement.”
The drive easily reached the 6,000 pounds of canned food originally set as the target — and then went on to more than double it with a final total of 12,804 pounds.
“WOW!,” Reese added via e-mail, once the full amount was totaled.
Wow, indeed.
Donations climbed tremendously in the final few days, with can after can and box after box of food pouring through the doors.
“The participation was wonderful and the community really stepped up to the plate,” Reese said. “We took about 4,000 pounds of food over on Thursday morning, and by the end of the food drive in one day we had over 4,500 pounds donated. It was just amazing.”
The total set quite a benchmark for future drives, Reese said.
“We’re already planning for next year,” she said. “It’s going to be starting earlier and maybe lasting longer. I hope we’ll be able to blow this year’s grand total out of the water.”
The fact that the community came through with such a passion was amazing, Reese said.
“Even with the economy the way it is, we as a community reached down deep into our pockets and gave with our hearts,” she said. “Even in tough times the Cullman community has gone above and beyond. Each business, organization and individual should be proud of what they have done for those in need, and it makes me proud to say that I am part of such a great community.”
Reese said the food drive has been a blessing to her, and hopefully to the community, as well.
“I took this task as an opportunity to represent The Cullman Times, to help get the community excited about a wonderful opportunity we have in our own town to give to others in need,” she said. “I have been blessed everyday and I hope that every hand that has touched a can of food, brought in money, carried boxes, or even just read the stories about this wonderful project is blessed, as well. I am so excited about next year and ready for the challenge.”
West Elementary School won the organization donation race with a whopping 2,867 pounds of food. The school has won a feature story that will be featured in a future edition of the Lifestyles section.
Cullman Treatment Center won the business competition with 1,625 pounds of food, with the prize of a free, full-page advertisement.
The top individual donator was Leon Lane, with 423 pounds of food.
An internal competition also took place at The Cullman Times office, with each department competing to bring in the most food — battling for a coveted paid-day-off prize.
The race was close until the final day, with the retail sales department leading with 292 pounds — followed closely by classifieds with 274 pounds and composing with 157 pounds.
The editorial department made a late push and rallied to bring in more than 600 pounds in the final day, for a grand total of 767 pounds.
Led by the efforts of Sports Editor Justin Graves and News Editor Amanda Shavers-Davis, the editorial department managed to more than double the amount brought in by any other department.
“I'm so proud of the editorial department’s efforts,” Shavers-Davis said. “Everyone pitched in what they could and in some cases more than they could.”
Shavers-Davis said her family also provided a helping hand to get the editorial department in the lead.
“I also have to thank my mom, grandmother and aunt who helped put editorial over the top with last-minute donations,” she said. “We all know how important Cullman Caring for Kids is to this community. Hundreds of families and the elderly depend on the good work (food bank director) Javon Daniel and the food bank staff do with the help of those in the community willing to donate.”
‰ Trent Moore can be reached by e-mail at trentm@cullmantimes.com, or by telephone at 734-2131, ext. 225.
