Statewide food drive raises $52K, 48K pounds of food

The Country Roads Statewide Food Drive raised $52,355 and garnered 48,000 pounds of food to feed families across the Mountain State.

The drive, held Tuesday at 18 collection sites across West Virginia, was prompted by the emergence of the novel coronavirus. Thirteen of the state’s United Ways participated in the event, which was organized by staffs of the United Way and West Virginia Radio Corporation.

Online giving at www.countryroadsfooddrive.com along with a $10,000 match from Pickering Associates and $10,000 in gift cards from Kroger garnered $31,359, which the 13 United Ways will split to serve their communities. The remaining $20,996 was raised at the collection locations, and the United Ways will be able to keep donations they received on site.

One of the largest donations of the day came from the Fairmont Pepsi plant. Geraldine Bart, representing the plant, dropped off several pallets of donated water and soft drinks during the Country Roads Statewide Food Drive.

“Yesterday was an amazing day. It beats any game, any social function, and any political race,” said Jessica Staley, United Way of Monongalia County’s Family Resource Network manager and an organizer of the event. “I love my state, and I love the people who make us West Virginia strong. I’m so thankful to have been a tiny part of what made yesterday an amazing success.”

“The results of this food drive surpassed all of our expectations,” said Brett White, chair of the West Virginia United Way Collaborative. “We put out the call, and West Virginians rallied and answered in a huge way. The food collected and money donated will go a long way toward helping those in need across the Mountain State.”

For more information about the food drive, visit www.countryroadsfooddrive.com.

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