Food Drive at State Fair Tops Last Year’s Collection
(SEDALIA, Mo.) –Missouri State Fair Director Mark Wolfe announced today that this year’s food drive netted more than 5 3/4 tons of canned food to help alleviate hunger in Missouri, topping last year’s total by more than 2 1/2 tons.
“Contributing to the increase is the Ford Super Duty F-250 Canstruction® exhibit built with nearly 7,000 cans,” said Wolfe. “This impressive exhibit will be on display through Aug. 19 in the Agriculture Building, with the cans then going to the Missouri Food Bank Association (MFBA).”
The food collection effort was initiated in June at Ford dealerships across Missouri. Ford dealers delivered their summer canned good collection to the fairgrounds Tuesday, while Missouri Farmers Care collected food coming in Centennial Gate. Ford dealership donations, gate collections and the Canstruction® exhibit, made the final tally of food collected significant.
MFBA Director Scott Baker said that the statewide food banks and pantries will help those in need through the generosity of Missourians. “Thanks to the collection efforts we can provide almost 11,000 meals with the Missouri State Fair’s contribution,” Baker said.
Supporting the food drive were Midwest Ford Dealers, the St. Louis Ford Dealers, Missouri Farmers Care, Bings Grocery Stores of Sedalia, Canstruction® Mid-Missouri of Columbia-Jefferson City, project engineer Patrick Earney of Trabue, Hansen & Hinshaw, Inc. of Columbia, and fairgoers.
The 2012 Missouri State Fair is currently underway in Sedalia and will run through Sunday, Aug. 19. For more information, visit www.mostatefair.com, or call 1-800-422-FAIR (3247). The Fair is also on Facebook, Twitter, Flickr and YouTube.