NewsChannel 21 Viewers Give a Gift, Get a Ride

Day 2 of the Deschutes County Fair was NewsChannel 21 Day. Bob Shaw and others were on hand Thursday, collecting canned food. The reward, a free ride pass.

“That’s pretty sweet,” said 12 year old Grace Davidson.

While the cans pile up, do these kids know where all that food is headed?

“I think it’s people that need food,? said 7-year-old Jayden Clenden.

Jayden is right. His can of food will end up at the largest food bank in Central Oregon, operated by 21 Cares for Kids partner NeighborImpact. They get the food to people in need through 46 partner agencies.

“Every month, those agencies are serving between 16,000 and 17,000 people,” said Food and Energy Assistance Manager Steve Murray.

NeighborImpact sends the food to places like Bend’s Community Center. They prepare it and distribute directly to the people who need it, a number that’s growing every year.

“I’ve been here seven years, and we are probably doing double the amount of work we were doing seven years ago,” said Murray.

Each individual donation can feel small in comparison to the need.

“I brought raspberries and soup,” said Davidson.

But the totals are impressive. Last year, more than 1,500 pounds of food were collected on NewsChannel 21 Day at the fair. This year, the final tally was more than twice that amount — over 3,000 pounds, NeighborImpact said Friday.

The total of 3,260 pounds means about 55 full food boxes. One box feeds a family of four for three days.

“Small donations are great, too, because it shows people are contributing and participating,” said Murray.

People like Davidson, who said, “I’m helping the ones that need it most.”