More than 100 tons of food will soon stock food bank shelves across Horry County. It's because of the Extreme Canned Food Drive, done in conjunction with the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition build in Horry County last week.
The drive exceeded its 100-ton goal, collecting 100.16 tons. That's 200,000 pounds of food or 156,000 meals for more than two dozen agencies county-wide.
For folks who feed the needy, the site of the warehouse packed with food Wednesday was almost overwhelming.
It was the final day of collection, an organized frenzy. Forklifts were put to the test, boxes taped up, and the food shipped out. Organizers worked with assembly-line precision.
Food pantries aren't used to seeing this kind of help. "We're having to bring in extra storage onsite to store this food, but hey, that's a good problem to have."
The "problem" began with an idea - to have the largest food drive in county history. Sterling Homes' Clinch Heyward, one of the builders of the Extreme Makeover home, came up with the 100-ton challenge and wondered if it could really be done.
"You know I thought if we get halfway there," said Heyward, "That's more food we'd have than if we didn't try. But to make that outrageous goal is a testimony to what happens when people pull in the same direction together."
Pulling together, to collect 100 tons of food, food that'll keep the good samaritans busy and keep the hungry fed, at least for several months.
Walmart played a tremendous role. In addition to acting as a drop off location for the food, the company donated 35 of the 100 tons of food.
Heyward's idea to do the Extreme Canned Food Drive came from a similar one done in Buffalo, NY.
We're happy to report we beat our friends from Buffalo by 15 tons.
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