(Photo courtesy Facebook/Midwest Food Bank)
By Greg Halbleib
BLOOMINGTON – A food fight that’s not messy will help more than 70 food pantries in McLean County.
Calvert and Metzler Memorial Home is partnering with Radio Bloomington and Denny’s Doughnuts and Bakery on the Calvert Cares Community Food Drive. It’s called “Food Fight” because the school or church that’s credited with the most donations will receive $1,000 and a Denny’s Doughnuts Dine-In with up to 50 dozen doughnuts delivered to the winning participant.
Chad Sparks of Calvert and Metzler said the idea grew out of the closure of one of the largest food pantries, Clare House:
“We went to Midwest Food Bank and met with Mike Hoffman,” Sparks told WJBC’s Scott Laughlin and Patti Penn. “Mike said, ‘We’ve always wanted to have this major food drive that really just hits the entire community.”
Drop-off locations are Midwest Food Bank, Radio Bloomington, Denny’s Doughnuts and Bakery, Calvert and Metzler Memorial Home, Hy-Vee, Fresh Market and all Bloomington-Normal Jewel-Osco locations.
For a school or church to receive credit, a Food Fight form must be filled out. Forms are available at schools, churches, Calvert and Metzler, Radio Bloomington and Denny’s Doughnuts and Bakery.
Sparks says donations can be credited to churches or schools for the Food Fight without taking them directly there.
“All you have to do is just put on your educational institution or religious organization, whichever one you want to get credit for, drop it in your bag or put it on your package, and they’ll weigh it at Midwest Food Bank and that organization or institution will get credit for that donation,” Sparks said.
The Food Fight continues through September 6 during the McLean County Senior Expo.
