Treasurer Perdue whips up support for UFO food drive
State Treasurer John Perdue is issuing a challenge to other state agencies and departments to participate in this year’s United Food Organization charity drive.
The UFO will honor the treasurer for the considerable volume of food donated by his staff during last year’s drive. He will be recognized following an 11 a.m. presentation to the West Virginia AFL-CIO Legislative Conference at the Charleston House Holiday Inn.
This year’s UFO drive is ongoing and will run through April 3.
Started in 1982, the United Food Organization is an all-volunteer group that distributes food to 12 food pantries each winter in Kanawha and Putnam counties. All types of non-perishable foods are accepted.
Utility bills skyrocket during the winter months, making it hard to make a limited income stretch to cover the basics. That is the gap that UFO hopes to fill.
UFO had its genesis 22 years ago, when a group of workers involved with the Kanawha Valley Labor Council became concerned over the number of their friends who were losing jobs.
Among those involved in the organization’s birth were chairwoman Elaine Harris, Gary Jarvis, Ray Pauley and Donald “Windy” Withrow.
Pantries that receive food from UFO are Covenant House in Charleston; Elk Valley Improvement Council in Clendenin; Mountain Mission in Charleston; Rand Food Pantry; St. Albans Care and Share; The Salvation Army; South Charleston Community Civic Council; United Community Services in Montgomery; Upper Kanawha Valley Improvement Council in Chesapeake; Christian Community Cupboard in Hurricane; Nitro Community Services; and Putnam Federated Services in Buffalo.
2-11-04