Local communities come together for United Way of SOKY ‘Feed the Need’ food drive

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (WBKO) - On Friday, March 24, volunteers with United Way of Southern Kentucky spent the day collecting food and other donations for their annual ‘Feed the Need’ food drive at several locations across the region.

Donations are being accepted throughout the weekend at various locations.

In Butler County, volunteers were inside the Priceless IGA at 1242 S. Main Street with a shopping cart for donations as people walked in and out of the store.

Melissa Glass, the Family Resource Coordinator for Butler County Elementary Schools, spoke about why these kinds of drives are important for a small-town community.

“No matter how small the donation everything matters when we all work together, we make sure to feel those pantries for our kids and families’” She said, “When they have a need, we can be there to support them... we have two food pantries that mainly serve our community and if those food pantries aren’t available to help families, they don’t have as many places to turn.”

Glass also added that when picking out what kinds of foods to donate, choosing ones that your kids would eat is a great start.

“As a mom myself, I like to tell people to buy food that kids will enjoy,” she said, “We’re going to take any donation and try to make the best out of it. But sometimes a box of mac and cheese or just something simple that can feed a child, it’s going to fill their bellies and make them feel better.”

Meanwhile, in Logan County, volunteers stood at the entrance of the Piggly Wiggly in Russellville accepting non-perishable food items for the donation drive.

Norm Wheeler, a resident of Logan County and long-time volunteer with United Way of Southern Kentucky, said that people’s donations do not only go toward a great cause, but it helps the communities of Logan County to grow.

”All of the food collected here stays locally and will go specifically to the Logan County Good Samaritan. It is a great local resource for, not only food, but lots of help for those in need. We are always glad to help out the Good Samaritan and United Way,” said Wheeler.

Each year, Wheeler is thankful to give back to a community that has given so much to him and his family.

”We are obviously blessed and fortunate to not have a whole lot of needs in my own life, and I am glad to help others when I can. I have always felt that way. My wife has as well. We always just volunteer for things like this whenever we can,” said Wheeler.

The ‘Feed the Need’ food drive is happening from now till Saturday at 1 p.m. at various locations.

For a full list of places to drop off items, click here.

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