Heartland United Way Distributes Nearly 13,700 Pounds of Food to Local Pantries
The Heartland United Way's Annual Food Drive successfully collected nearly 13,700 pounds of food, which was distributed to local pantries, shelters, and backpack programs. This effort was crucial as organizations like Free Food and Many Blessings in Grand Island reported a significant increase in daily needs. Jim Elrod from Free Food and Many Blessings noted that the rising cost of living forces individuals to choose between essential expenses like rent, food, or medical bills. Pastor Ray Stone of First Faith United Methodist Church emphasized the importance of community support, stating that the collected food is incredibly helpful in supplementing what congregations can provide. FFA students from 104 chapters across Nebraska, Iowa, and Kansas contributed significantly, filling a Chief Construction trailer with 12,480 pounds of food during Husker Harvest Days. Palmer Public Schools led the donations with 419 pounds. Local grocery stores in Hall, Hamilton, Howard, and Merrick Counties collected nearly 970 ...
