A local fitness facility is joining a nationwide effort to help provide food for the hungry.
Curves of Gainesville is in the middle of its seventh food drive for VISTO — Cooke County’s food bank.
The drive began March 1 and ends March 31.
Each year the drive has brought in a large amount of food, said owner Judy Waskow.
“We always get at least 1,000 pounds of foods,” she said, “In the first couple of years, we got in a couple of thousand pounds. Over the years, we’ve probably donated 9,000 pounds of non-perishable foods to VISTO.”
Waskow credits the generosity of Curve’s members for the project’s success.
“Our members are so good to participate in things (of this nature),” she said.
There’s also another perk to donating food during the Curves International Food Drive.
“If someone brings in a bag of groceries, we waive their service fee so they can join Curves,” she said.
The food has a way of piling up on shelves inside the facility so Waskow said she usually delivers it to VISTO about once a week.
The drive has brought in donations of several millions pounds of food from the nearly national 10,000 Curves franchises.
Curves has participated in several fund raising efforts including sponsoring a Relay for Life team and donating $300 to Haitian relief.
Waskow said the goal for Curves is to “make women healthier.”
“Our goal this year is ‘Stronger together,’” she noted.
Curves founder Diane Heavin said the goal for the nationwide food drive is bring women together to help others.
“Even if you’re not thinking about joining a gym, you can still drop off your donations. There are so many families — right here in our own community — who need your help,” Heavin said in a press release.
Waskow said she’d also like to remind residents that Curves has moved from its location on N. Dixon St. to 406 N. Grand, Ste. 108.
“We’re right behind Century 21,” she said.
VISTO Executive Director Michelle Baldwin said the Curves food drive is a blessing to her organization.
“This is a nationwide program, but it’s great that it happens during Lent. That’s one of the things the season reminds us of, to be thankful for what we have and to help those who are less fortunate. During the Curves food drive, you can not only help the suffering, but you can also help yourself become healthier in the process,” Baldwin said.
Baldwin also said the 1,000 pounds of food destined for VISTO will help about 10 families.
“We give the average family about 110 pounds of food,” she said.
Last year’s Curves food drive helped provide food for the organization’s Back Pack buddy program, she said.
“This year, it’s a general food drive and that’s good, too. We’ve seen no dramatic increase in the number of people requiring assistance. But what we are seeing is people who are coming in who have never had to ask for help before. So many need help this time of year because of high utility bills from the cold winter,” Baldwin said.
For more on the Curves food drive call 612-6900.
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