Women’s Leadership Initiative’s Food Drive was a success
Published 10:06 am Wednesday, October 2, 2013
Austin High School students Brandon Miller, Merideth Fritz, Jeremy Olmsted and Tori Grev deliver a food collected during the Women’s Leadership Initiative’s food drive. Photo provided
Organizers with the Women’s Leadership Initiative’s first WLI Weekend Backpack Food Drive called the event a huge success.
Members of the Women’s Leadership Initiative (WLI) and Austin High School Student Council teamed up Sept. 21 to collect 2,774 food items and $1,000 to benefit the WLI Weekend Food Backpack program.
Andrea Malo, student council advisor, said students continued an AHS tradition of helping the community and holding a food drive during Homecoming week.
“We were really happy to partner with WLI on this event and pleased with the effort by students at Austin High. They raised enough money to buy 1,500 meals for the backpack program,” she said. “I think that’s pretty awesome.”
The WLI Weekend Food Backpack program provides easy-to-prepare food for children who are identified as not having easy access to food at Southgate and Woodson schools.
Students and WLI members also collected donations at Hy-Vee and Jim’s Marketplace.
“We are really pleased with the results of our first food drive,” said Kathy Fritz, event committee chair. “Working with the students was a great fit for us. We thank everyone for their donations.”
The backpack program is just one area where the WLI is helping to ensure children’s basic needs are being met. Personal Care Closets at all K-4 schools in Austin have been established and are funded by the WLI
The Women’s Leadership Initiative is open to all women in Mower County. People interested in learning more or joining can visit the United Way of Mower County’s website at www.uwmower.org/wli.
