Helping the Hungry
It’s Anne Whitely’s job to make sure Walgreens store shelves stay stocked. But now, she’s doing her part to make sure her neighbors don’t run out of supplies, too.
“I don’t want to see anybody go hungry,” said Whitely. “When I heard that more families were hitting food pantries and our food bank couldn’t keep up with demand, it just hit me as the right thing to do.”
So, at a time when many were trying to make ends meet during a rough economy, she and other district employees and managers launched a citywide effort to help the hungry in Kansas City.
All non-perishable items were shipped to the area’s only food bank, Harvesters – The Community Food Network. In 2008, Harvesters says it’s seen a 30 percent increase in food it distributes – up significantly from its typical 6 percent increase. Kids make up 43 percent of the people relying on emergency food programs while 7 percent are senior citizens.
All told, Walgreens donated hundreds of canned goods. Whitely says numbers aside, she’s moved by the compassion and action her community brings.
