Employees collect a trailer full of food
By Bert Lehman
Employees of Creative Converting in Clintonville recently donated 5,768 food items to the Clintonville Area Food Pantry.
Lee Seater, Human Resource manager at Creative Converting, said the company has held a food drive collection for around five years. This year’s collection of food was the most of any food drive the company held.
The collecting of food items begins in early December each year. To help encouraged donations some spirited employees rally other team members to bring a high level of energy and enthusiasm to the good cause.
“It is a great feeling being part of a team where everyone pulls together to help our friends and neighbors in the community,” the company said in a statement.
The food items were delivered to the pantry on Thursday, Dec. 17 on a large trailer. Employees who helped unload the trailer included: Heather Wanta, Sandy Wanta, Laura Writt, Marilyn Bauman, Jason Hornung, Lorne Buss, Lee Seater, Tom Stueck, and Joan Sprenger.
The company plans to host another food drive in December 2016.
Dave Schmidt, vice president of the Clintonville Area Food Pantry, said the amount of food donated by Creative Converting is enough to stock the shelves of the pantry for about one month.
“It’s just great that the community has stepped up, especially Creative Converting, they’ve been a good partner to us and we really appreciate everything they do,” Schmidt said.
Schmidt said donations during the holiday season have increased this year when compared to last year.
He added that the number of people requesting food at the pantry has increased over the last six months.
“It’s sad that we’re at that situation, but it has been increasing, and it seems to just keep on increasing,” Schmidt said.
With that being the case, Schmidt said he is thankful for everyone in the community — individuals, businesses, and churches — who have made food donations.