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Independence, MO —
Since its inception in 2009, the Civic Club Challenge in Independence has managed to double the pounds of food collected.
This year, the event’s fourth annual, will be no different, as local civic organizations aim to collect 40,000 pounds of food in two-and-a-half months, said At-Large City Council Member Jim Schultz, who also is chairman of the Hungry and Homeless Coalition.
The effort began last Thursday as local chapters of the Lions, Rotary, Kiwanis and Optimist clubs will compete to see which can collect the most non-perishable items. That food will be distributed, with the help of the Junior Service League, to about 15 pantries when the challenge wraps up on Aug. 11.
In 2009, the challenge netted 5,000 pounds of food, which doubled to 10,000 pounds in 2010 and to 20,000 pounds in 2011. Kiwanis won the first year, followed by the Lions Club in 2010 and the Optimist Club last year.
“Rotary was right by them, really close,” Schultz said of last year’s challenge. “Rotary has declared that they are going to be the winner this year – we’ll see. There was some really good camaraderie and challenges made (Thursday) among the different clubs, and that was good to see.”
The Civic Club Challenge is one of five projects sponsored each year by the Hungry and Homeless Coalition, and according to Schultz and his work with the group, the need is growing.
“There are more families than ever that are needing help,” he said. “More folks are losing their jobs and are having trouble finding jobs. The need has grown over the last four years, and it re-energized everyone to keep going.
“Part of this is fun, but everyone realizes we are doing this for the community and that it all stays in Independence.”
Residents who don’t belong to a civic club also can get involved, Schultz said. He said many civic club members will take collection bins to their places of employment to encourage donations.
“Everybody knows somebody who belongs to a civic club,” Schultz said, adding that toward the final weeks of the challenge, some clubs will ask people at grocery stores to take a bag in and to fill it for one of the pantries. He credited Hy-Vee for its support in past challenge years.
So, what should participants donate? Focus on non-perishable canned and boxed goods, Schultz said, especially peanut butter and boxed pasta.
“It seems like everybody knows what to do with those two items,” he said.
Since its inception in 2009, the Civic Club Challenge in Independence has managed to double the pounds of food collected.
This year, the event’s fourth annual, will be no different, as local civic organizations aim to collect 40,000 pounds of food in two-and-a-half months, said At-Large City Council Member Jim Schultz, who also is chairman of the Hungry and Homeless Coalition.
The effort began last Thursday as local chapters of the Lions, Rotary, Kiwanis and Optimist clubs will compete to see which can collect the most non-perishable items. That food will be distributed, with the help of the Junior Service League, to about 15 pantries when the challenge wraps up on Aug. 11.
In 2009, the challenge netted 5,000 pounds of food, which doubled to 10,000 pounds in 2010 and to 20,000 pounds in 2011. Kiwanis won the first year, followed by the Lions Club in 2010 and the Optimist Club last year.
“Rotary was right by them, really close,” Schultz said of last year’s challenge. “Rotary has declared that they are going to be the winner this year – we’ll see. There was some really good camaraderie and challenges made (Thursday) among the different clubs, and that was good to see.”
The Civic Club Challenge is one of five projects sponsored each year by the Hungry and Homeless Coalition, and according to Schultz and his work with the group, the need is growing.
“There are more families than ever that are needing help,” he said. “More folks are losing their jobs and are having trouble finding jobs. The need has grown over the last four years, and it re-energized everyone to keep going.
“Part of this is fun, but everyone realizes we are doing this for the community and that it all stays in Independence.”
Residents who don’t belong to a civic club also can get involved, Schultz said. He said many civic club members will take collection bins to their places of employment to encourage donations.
“Everybody knows somebody who belongs to a civic club,” Schultz said, adding that toward the final weeks of the challenge, some clubs will ask people at grocery stores to take a bag in and to fill it for one of the pantries. He credited Hy-Vee for its support in past challenge years.
So, what should participants donate? Focus on non-perishable canned and boxed goods, Schultz said, especially peanut butter and boxed pasta.
“It seems like everybody knows what to do with those two items,” he said.
