WBRZ Celebrates 25th Annual Food Drive
In response to the increasing need to feed the hungry in our viewing area, WBRZ News 2 Louisiana will conduct its 25th annual “Feed-A-Family” food drive. With the aid of the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank, and the Baton Rouge Clinic, WBRZ will place food collection barrels with the “Feed-A-Family” logo in area grocery stores. The barrels will be wrapped with the special blue and white “Feed-A-Family” wrappers. Food collected will be distributed through the Food Bank, which services 11 area parishes including: East and West Baton Rouge, East and West Feliciana, Iberville, Pointe Coupee, St. James, St. Helena, Livingston, Ascension and Assumption.
Area residents are urged to place non-perishable food items such as canned goods, dried milk, flour, rice, baby food, etc., in the “Feed-A-Family” barrels from Monday, October 12 through Saturday, November 14. Volunteers will deliver all donations to the Food Bank, where they will be stored and distributed to agencies serving needy individuals. Families needing food should call 211, the United Way Help line, for more information about how to receive donations.
The bulk of the food donated comes from private businesses, East Baton Rouge Parish schools, and grocery stores throughout the WBRZ viewing area. Parents are encouraged to send their children to school with non-perishable food items. Business owners are also encouraged to participate. Businesses or individuals that would like to participate in this year’s “Feed-A-Family” food drive should call the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank at (225) 359-9940.
Channel 2 will host “Feed-A-Family Friday” on November 13th from 5am to 6pm at Matherne’s Grocery Stores, 7580 Bluebonnet Blvd and 7355 Highland Road. WBRZ News 2 Louisiana will broadcast live during 2une In, from 5-7 am, from Matherne’s on Bluebonnet Blvd. Area residents and corporate donors are urged to bring perishable items such as turkeys, hams, fruits or vegetables on “Feed-A-Family Friday.” All perishable items will be delivered to the less fortunate members of the community in time for Thanksgiving.
Monetary donations are also welcomed. For every $1 donated, the Food Bank can buy $12 of food for families in need. To encourage monetary donations, WBRZ will work with the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank to promote “Thibodeaux” Turkey and “Pierre” Pig. For each $25 contribution, donors will be able to “adopt” a Thibodeaux or Pierre beanie stuffed animal. Proceeds will be used to purchase turkeys and hams for needy families in our area.
In 2008, WBRZ’s “Feed-A-Family” food drive collected more than 208 thousand pounds of food and fed families from 11 area parishes. For additional information on “Feed-A-Family,” visit wbrz.com.
