Christmas in July | AAA Moving & Storage/Allied Alaska Collects 5,000+ LBS. of Food

The holiday season is all about giving. Whether it be giving gifts or giving back, there is no denying the fact that this joyous time acts as an inspiration for people to reflect on their good fortune and take the time to lend a hand to those less fortunate.

So, why do we limit this period of giving to the months of November and December? After the holidays, people typically feel that they have made their impact and carry on with their day to day lives; not AAA Moving & Storage/Allied Alaska, though.

Last weekend, Allied Alaska decided to spread some holiday cheer by holding a Christmas in July food drive. Four of  Allied Alaska's locations - Anchorage, Fairbanks, Kodiak, & Palmer - held their own food drives outside of their local supermarkets. Together, they collected almost nearly 5,200 pounds of food -- thats enough to provide more than 4,330 meals! Allied Alaska is well on their way to meeting their goal of collecting 10,000 pounds of food by the end of the year!

The food was delivered to the Food Bank of Alaska, which serves the greater Anchorage area in which more than 100,000 people, including 1 in 5 children, do not know where their next meal is coming from.

The general manager of Allied Alaska, John Lloyd, has a long history of giving back. During his time as a member of the Coast Guard, Lloyd would volunteer to cook lunch every Friday afternoon at the Salvation Army. As his career changed throughout the years, Lloyd made sure to keep up with volunteering his time in any way he could.

Starting in 2009, Lloyd has been able to host multiple food drives with Allied Alaska and has played a pivotal role in the fight against hunger. Lloyd says it is great to work for the owners of Allied Alaska, Barry and Jeanette Wakefield, because their "passion is a huge part of the company" and that "it's nice to work for people who care!"

Allied Alaska hopes to get all seven of their Alaska agencies to be involved in their upcoming drives. Lloyd says that these events certainly help to bring the Allied Alaska community closer together and that they shine a much-needed light on the issue of hunger in the area.

"No matter what position you hold in life, you should always try and help those who are worse off than you," Lloyd said. "After all, we are all good at heart."

Thanks to everyone at Allied Alaska and all those who participated in the Christmas in July food drive, and remember, the giving season shouldn't be limited to just two months, make it your goal to give back all year long!

Feeling inspired? Want to spread some cheer within your own community? CLICK HERE to start planning a food drive of your own!