Rain or shine, the fight against hunger must prevail. That can-do attitude embodies AMWAT Moving & Warehousing , a Wheaton agent, and all those who participated in the 2017 Summer Fill-A-Truck food and fund drive.
Despite the stormy weather, the people of Tallahassee, Florida helped to collect more than 7,550 pounds of food -- enough for nearly 6,300 meals -- and over $7,400 for Second Harvest of the Big Bend.
The Tallahassee Police Department went above and beyond in their efforts to collect non-perishable items, and their efforts certainly paid off! As one of the top donors, they were able to collect more than 2,400 pounds of food, enough to provide more than 2,000 meals to the 1 in 5 people struggling with food insecurity in Leon County, Florida. Many of the TPD officers found great joy in participating in the food drive and even delivered one of their many donations via SWAT car!
While the Tallahassee Police Department collected the greatest amount of food, Coldwell Banker Hartung and Noblin, a local real estate firm, brought in the highest monetary donation -- a whopping $3,025! Since the average cost of a meal is $3 in Leon County, their donation alone is able to buy 1,000 meals for those who need it most!
AMWAT Moving & Warehousing held a ceremony in honor of the extensive efforts of the Tallahassee Police Department and Coldwell Banker as well as the surrounding community; without their determination and dedication to the cause, such a feat would not have been possible. Being that this is the fourth year AMWAT Moving & Warehousing has hosted this drive, they have built a strong network within the community and know that they can depend on their local partners. In fact, Gloria Pugh, President and CEO of AMWAT Moving & Warehousing, said that "the day we hosted the 2017 Summer Fill a Truck, we were experiencing monsoon weather but that did not deter our community from showing up and donating food and funds." Talk about dedication to a cause!
Since 2008, when the Great Recession took a toll on many local non-profits, AMWAT Moving & Warehousing has been an avid supporter of Second Harvest of the Big Bend. Pugh said that "the idea of children going hungry (or anyone going hungry in the USA) is absurd but a reality," so she and her husband, Dean, came up with the idea to hold a fill-a-truck style food drive and have never looked back.
Although summer marks a vacation from school, it doesn't mark a vacation from hunger. In fact, during the summer, many children who rely on free or discounted meals at school are left vulnerable and unsure of where their next meal may come from. One in 5 children in Leon County, Florida know the realities of food insecurity all too well, and food drives such as AMWAT Moving & Warehousing's Summer 2017 Fill-A-Truck help to ensure that those kids can take a break from worrying about hunger and simply be a kid.
Feeling inspired? Want to host your own food drive? Click HERE to find out how!
