For the fourth straight year, the Dothan Eagle and the Wiregrass Area United Way Food Bank are partnering to raise money for an important cause.
“Subscribe to a Solution” is the food bank’s top fundraiser, in which envelopes are inserted in newspapers with the hope of drawing financial donations from the community.
The fundraiser received $13,000 its first year, about $20,000 in 2008, but dropped to $11,000 last year.
“That's pretty much due to the economy,” said Julie Gonzalez, special projects coordinator for the food bank. “We’re going into the holiday season behind our normal fundraising levels, because people are having to recoup from losses they suffered due to everything in the financial world. We're receiving fewer donations and doing more distribution, because demand has gone up. We're hoping to see an increase this year over last year so we can continue distributing food to those who need it.”
The drive kicks off this Friday, and both the food bank and the Eagle are hopeful for a big year.
“We certainly hope we'll have the success we’ve have in the last three years,” said Jim Whittum, the Eagle’s publisher. “We declined a bit last year, but it’s been a very successful program for the food bank, and the Dothan Eagle has been happy to help make this happen.”
Whittum pointed to the community’s belief in the food bank as the reason so many donate each year.
“It's a case where the people are naturally inclined to be generous, particularly when they know the success and benefits the food bank has had,” he said. “They know this is a good cause, and I think we simply afford them the opportunity to take advantage easily, and it's just about people's generosity.”
Gonzalez said the community is supportive all year, but it usually ramps up for “Subscribe to a Solution.”
“That's why we’re so optimistic we're going to have a better turnout this year than last year,” she said. “We have loyal supporters who help the food bank no matter what. There’s also a lot of former contributors who (stopped contributing) because of the economy. We're hoping to get them back and get the food bank on a rebound, too.”
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