During our preliminary meetings earlier this year for the upcoming Food-A-Bago food drive to assist families in need through the services of Broome County CHOW (Community Hunger Outreach Warehouse),we were concerned how the current pandemic would impact our yearly food drive.

We came to the conclusion that we would be safe, put in place Covid-19 precautions and whatever we get in terms of non-perishable food items and monetary donations, would be a victory no matter how much or how little we got. We figured we would not equal or surpass last year's results, and that was okay.

The last thing we wanted to do, was ask our listeners to give if they felt uneasy shopping or stopping by. And that's why we offered a way to donate online. On the first day of Food-A-Bago, we were greeted with snow, high winds and below freezing temperatures. I thought that might be a bad sign of things to come, but I would soon find out that would not be the case.

Our community came out in force again, despite our putting the brakes on the grocery cart challenge out of concern and respect during this pandemic. Monday and Tuesday were great days with food and monetary donations, and as the week progressed, it just got better and better.

To see and meet so many people in our community as they stopped with a donation, some who may be struggling a bit themselves, was something I will never forget. We were in the thick of the pandemic and election week dividing the nation, but I didn't see that anywhere in the faces of those who stopped by with donations to Broome County CHOW.

This was our 20th year for the Food-A-Bago food drive for Broome County CHOW, and our community donated 6,835 pounds of food, which equals 5,696 meals. That's just under three and a half tons of food!

As for the monetary donations, last year our community donated 10,000 dollars. This year we received donations totaling over 16,500 dollars! That equals over 83,000 complete meals. Add in the non-perishable food donations, and that comes to just over 89,000 complete meals!

I can't think of words good enough to express our heartfelt thanks. Just know how appreciative we are of the passion and caring from our community, from private citizens, to organizations to businesses. In the end, you are helping your neighbors who may need a bit of assistance at this time of their lives.

And it's all because of your generosity. Be proud of that, and Thank you!

Enter your number to get our free mobile app

FOOD-A-BAGO 2020: Take A Look At How The Community is Helping Broome County CHOW!

More From 99.1 The Whale