Downtown workers taking food challenge

Van Wert independent/United Way information

Main Street businesses and the Van Wert County government employees have kicked off a food drive challenge for the United Way Day of Caring food drive to benefit The Salvation Army.

“Since Main Street was the pacesetter for the 2011 United Way campaign I was thinking that we should continue our support and have a food drive challenge to help meet the 25,000 Day of Caring food item goal,” said Denise Frey of First Financial Bank. “I spoke with the county commissioners and they were more than willing to participate.”

At the end of the day on Thursday, September 22, the items will be counted. Whoever has collected the most items will be the winner of the challenge.  In order to make it a little more interesting and to have some fun, the winners of the challenge will get to choose someone from the losing side to take a pie in the face in front of the courthouse at noon on Friday, September 23.

“I am hoping this will be a great incentive,” Frey said. “Some people I spoke to were already thinking of who they would pick!

“It is my hope that people will really get behind this challenge and bring in a lot of canned food items and we can have some fun at the same time,’ she added.

Team captains for Main Street businesses are Frey and Dianne Fisk of First Financial Bank, while the team captain for county government is Pam Henderson. Collection points to drop off food include First Financial Bank’s downtown office, the County Annex building, the Van Wert County Courthouse, Butler’s Bakery, and Mengerink’s Source for Sports.  Anyone in the community is welcome to drop off canned food items at their choice of locations.

Food items needed include canned meat, macaroni and cheese, peanut butter, spaghetti and spaghetti sauce, fruit, vegetables, canned meals, rice, cereal, and baby food. Taxable items that people cannot purchase with food stamps, but are certainly needed, include disposable diapers, toilet paper, paper towels, toothpaste and toothbrushes, bar soap, dish soap, laundry soap, deodorant, disposable razors, and shampoo.