Businesses to participate in food fight for a cause

J. Peyton Gravely, director of development and marketing for Reach Out Lakota, tells more.

Q: What is the Corporate Food Fight?

A: Although there won't be the traditional potatoes whizzing by, the second annual corporate food fight will bring together local businesses and civic organizations to compete against one another, based on employee size, for the right to be crowned food fight champion.

The competition brings together local businesses for a common cause: ending the hunger issue in West Chester and Liberty townships. The three-week competition ends with a wrap-up event where we award trophies for the businesses that raise the most food or money.

Q: Why did Reach Out Lakota decide to start this event?

A: This event began in Larimer County, Colorado years ago, and through research, we felt it would benefit our community and organization. Aside from the food and monetary donations made to Reach Out Lakota, one of the best experiences has been seeing the friendly competition between local businesses. Many will market their rivalry within the competition to encourage patrons and employees to help them collect as many items as possible.

Q: How successful was it in 2016?

A: The community truly embraced the idea of competing against one another on our behalf. In all, we raised more than 8,000 pounds of food and $2,000. Welling and Co. Jewelers, Sibcy Cline VOA, RiskSOURCE/Clark-Theders, SanMar Corp and MidPointe Library West Chester all took home awards.

We have a lofty goal of 20,000 pounds of food this year. We have some amazing businesses and civic organization within the community that have already committed to competing and hope to see more register before May 29.

Q: How can businesses participate?

A: Businesses can participate by raising food and monetary donations within the physical locations. Additionally, many businesses offer discounts to their patrons for donating towards their total amounts. We are also offering sponsorships of $250 to join as a participation sponsor, also known as the Messy Eaters Club. To register your business or sponsor our event, please contact J. Peyton Gravely, Director of Development and Marketing, at jpgravely@reachoutlakota.org.

Q: What impact do these donations have on fighting hunger?

A: The biggest impact is the larger amounts of food we are able to have in our reserves during the summer months. With the greater demand and client needs from late May through September, we are now able to off-set spending and keep our shelves completely full until Lakota resumes the school year. Additionally, we have begun offering more food items in each food order and this allows us to continue helping those in need in a greater capacity during the aforementioned time frame.

Q: How does Reach Out Lakota make a difference in the community?

A: I actually ask myself that question on a regular basis. Being a transplant, I have worked in communities that held the highest unemployment rate in the state (Virginia), so understanding needs from the vast opposite ends of the spectrum gives me a bit of clarity that some may not have.

However, hunger is a real issue in West Chester and Liberty townships. A large amount of our growing community stems from the wonderful local school district and the growing industry in our area. Many of our clients have moved to West Chester and Liberty townships to offer their children an opportunity for a great education, without having gainful employment.

With all of those issues being considered, Reach Out Lakota’s main impact on the WCL community is being the bridge that guides individuals living on the edge of poverty, the working poor, an opportunity to remain on their feet and grow to become well established and self-sustaining within our community.