Greenfield shows generous spirit through food drive
¸Rotary edges out Kiwanis as largest contributor this year
By DEREK R. SMITH dsmith@greenfieldreporter.com
GREENFIELD — Fueled by the friendly rivalry between Rotary and Kiwanis, Greenfield collected more food than Indianapolis and Shelbyville in the 40,000 Pounds of Giving drive on Saturday.
“Once again, I think they did an amazing job and they showed that generosity runs deep in Hancock County,” said Carl Denny, founder of the food drive. “I wasn’t expecting near that much weight to come in.”
Greenfield raised 11,431 pounds of food, while Indianapolis raised about 7,500 pounds and Shelbyville raised about 2,500 pounds, Denny said.
This marked the fifth year for 40,000 Pounds of Giving. Denny, who serves as Shelbyville terminal manager for Ruan transportation company, began the food drive in Shelbyville and expanded it to Greenfield and Indianapolis last year. The “40,000 pounds” – or 20 tons – refers to the legal weight limit that can fill a 53-foot semi trailer.
This year, Rotary emerged as Greenfield’s largest contributor with 4,276 pounds of food. Not far behind was Kiwanis, which contributed 4,087 pounds.
The two service clubs viewed the drive as just another chapter in their friendly philanthropic rivalry; at stake is typically a $100 bet that goes to charity. (Last year, Kiwanis came out on top.)
Both Rotary and Kiwanis recognize the food drive is all about helping the less fortunate, said Rotarian Wayne Addison.
But with that being said, bragging rights are at stake and “if Kiwanis wants to come to a Rotary meeting, we’ll be very happy to serve them a dish of fried crow like they gave me last year,” Addison added.
Other notable local contributors to the food drive included Keihin IPT Mfg., Greenfield-Central High School, Kroger, Amity United Methodist Church, the Keene family, Girl Scouts, Greenfield City Hall employees, the Boatman family, Ellen Moore, the Brandywine Cruisers, the Hancock County Food Pantry, Greenfield/Hancock County Animal Management, Hancock Hope House and Brandywine Community Church.
Food raised in Hancock County stays in the county. Local recipients included Hancock Hope House, Hancock County Food Pantry, Angel Connection Food Ministry, Kenneth Butler Memorial Soup Kitchen and Brandywine Community Church Pantry.
Hope House received a pickup truck full of food. Volunteers selected items like beef stew that can be easily heated in a microwave.
“It’s just amazing to see that the community pulls together like they do,” said interim Executive Director Kelley Mires. “It’s a huge blessing to us.”
Brandywine runs a small pantry of nonperishable items that serves about two to five families a week, said office manager Debbie Bruce.
Like Hope House, the church food pantry received a pickup truck load of food.
“That was huge,” Bruce said. “Our pantry had been running low. It’s busier than normal, especially during the holidays. It was a boost that we needed.”
Typically, Brandywine will have a couple of big pushes for the pantry per year. One usually comes during vacation Bible school and another during Weight Watchers, with participants donating according to how much weight they lose.
At other times, Brandywine leaders will appeal to the church members to bring in more food for the pantry.
“That (40,000 Pounds drive) has been a very good experience,” Bruce said. “It kind of bridges the community and the churches together as far as the giving part of it. It’s nice to have those relationships there.”
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