LIVE UNITED Food Drive Held Through May 23

Story County residents are asked to help feed the hungry by donating to the United Way of Story County (UWSC) LIVE UNITED Food Drive, running now through May 23, 2013. Since the food drive kicked off on May 13, many community members have pitched in to make a difference.

“We are thankful for those who have supported the food drive, but we are still in need of donations,” said Shannon Bardole, UWSC administrative assistant and food drive coordinator. “The need is there, and we are asking the community to continue to help those in need.”

In 2012, Story County residents helped UWSC collect nearly 6,900 pounds of food and over $2,300 which was distributed to local food pantries. Food pantries receiving the donations include Bethesda Community Food Pantry, Calvary United Methodist Church, First Evangelical Free Church, Mid-Iowa Community Action (MICA) and The Salvation Army in Ames, Cambridge Food Pantry, Colo Community Food Pantry, Huxley Food Pantry, Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry in Story City, Local Food Pantry in Maxwell, McCallsburg/Zearing Food Bank, Nevada Community Cupboard, and Slater/Sheldahl Food Pantry.

More than 60 local organizations have partnered with United Way to serve as drop points for donations. In Ames, these businesses include: Ace Community Credit Union, Bankers Trust, Carpet One, Casey's General Store, ChildServe, Chocolaterie Stam, Dahl's, First American Bank, First National Bank, Fox Engineering, Friedrich Iowa Realty, Greater Iowa Credit Union, Great Western Bank, Hunziker & Associates, Realtors, ISU Foundation, J.C. Penney, Knapp Tedesco, Lutheran Services in Iowa, Pizza Ranch, River Valley Credit Union, Studio7 Salon & Spa, Triplett Companies, US Bank, VisionBank, and Wells Fargo.

There are also drop-off locations in Colo, Huxley, Maxwell, Nevada, Roland, Slater, and Story City.

For a complete list of participating organizations across the county, a list of needed items in the food pantries and more information, visit www.uwstory.org.