Wheatland Electric’s 2020 Cram the Van season has raised the equivalent of 32,206 pounds of food for 11 area food banks across our service territory, more than any year since its inception in 2014.
Since its inaugural season and including this year’s totals, Wheatland Electric has facilitated the collection of more than 63 tons (127,733 pounds) of food donations, thanks to the generosity of the members and communities we serve. To date, all donations have been delivered to the local food banks in the communities in which they were donated.
For the fourth year, the Hiss-Sherman Wealth Management Group sponsored the Great Bend School Competition from October 12-16, 2020. Through collaboration with USD 428 schools, Central Kansas Christian Academy, and Holy Family Elementary, the students brought in over 4,500 pounds of food during this week-long competition.
Central Kansas Christian Academy claimed first place again this year and received $500 for their efforts in collecting an average of over 18 pounds of food donations per student. Jefferson Elementary School received $300 for their second-place victory. Riley Elementary School took third place and received $200. Additionally this year, Hiss-Sherman Wealth Management gave $100 to the six other schools (Eisenhower Elementary School, Park Elementary School, Lincoln Elementary School, Great Bend Middle School, Great Bend High School, and Holy Family Elementary School) who participated in the challenge.
Due to the special challenges surrounding the ongoing pandemic, Wheatland Electric held six donation drive-ins during the months of October and November to facilitate the collection of both cash and can donations from members in exchange for a pre-packaged hamburger or hot-dog meal.
Thanks to these donations, additional online donations, and proceeds collected from the second annual Co-Ops Cares Charity Golf Tournament, held Aug. 28, 2020, at Mariah Hills Golf Course in Dodge City, Wheatland Electric has delivered the equivalent of 16 tons of food to 11 local food banks within our southwest and southcentral service territory.
These area food banks include the following: Ministerial Alliance in Scott City; Wichita County Food Bank in Leoti; Greeley County Food Pantry in Tribune; Hamilton County Food Pantry in Syracuse; Horns for Hope c/o USD 363 in Holcomb; Emmaus House and Genesis Family Health in Finney County; Community Food Bank of Barton County in Great Bend; Harper Mission Mart in Harper; and the United Methodist Food Pantry and Caldwell Food Bank in Caldwell.
- Caldwell – 2,055 lbs.
- Conway Springs – 2,672 lbs.
- Finney County –3,394 lbs.
- Great Bend – 7,590 lbs.
- Harper – 2,152 lbs.
- Holcomb – 1,927 lbs.
- Leoti – 3,096 lbs.
- Scott City – 4,045 lbs.
- Syracuse – 2,679 lbs.
- Tribune – 2,596 lbs.
- Total: 32,206
Watch a video of our 2020 Cram the Van donations and deliveries at https://youtu.be/VFPcR8PRH-0. For more information about Cram the Van, visit https://www.weci.net/cram-van-food-drive.