Join the Cause: UFO’s 44th Annual Food Drive Kicks Off in Kanawha Valley – Help Fight Hunger Today!

INSTITUTE, W.Va. – Local volunteers are gearing up for a busy 12 weeks as they kick off the 44th annual United Food Operation food drive. Their goal? To collect non-perishable food items for food banks in Kanawha and Putnam Counties.

Elaine Harris, the chairperson of this initiative, emphasized the rising need for food. “We check in with the pantries, and they often run low on supplies. The demand is significant, so we must keep this drive active,” she said.

Every Friday until April, donations can be dropped off at their warehouse in Institute. This food will then be distributed to various local food banks. The warehouse is easy to find, thanks to a large sign at the Institute exit.

This year, the drive has a new partner—the American Postal Workers Union Local 133. Members of this union, who work at the nearby U.S. Postal Service Processing Center at Southridge, are eager to help. The center had faced closure but was saved through community efforts and support from West Virginia’s congressional delegation. Now, they’re giving back.

Tim Holstein, Vice President of APWU Local 133, expressed the team’s enthusiasm. “We’re excited to participate,” he stated. They have set up donation tables at both the union office and the Main Post Office, encouraging everyone to contribute non-perishable food items. “Even one can can make a difference in someone’s life,” he added.

The food drive welcomes any non-perishable donations. Whether you bring items to the warehouse each Friday or need help with a larger donation, the team is ready to assist. According to Harris, this drive has been a labor of love for nearly 45 years, addressing the needs of people who sometimes slip through the cracks.

“The need is immense,” she noted. “We started this program to help working individuals who find themselves in tough situations.”