LANCASTER - Friendly competition never hurt anyone is a common phrase when competition might not be as friendly as it seems.
However, in the case of the First Annual Food Pantry Challenge between six area businesses, friendly competition actually helped local organizations and food pantries by raising more than $40,000 in around four weeks.
Bill Patton, director of operations at Thompson Concrete, said he named this the first annual because he wants it to continue in following years.
"The leadership team at Thompson was having a meeting, when Scott Thompson said he was interested in coming up with some kind of donation system. He said he'd be willing to match whatever our employees donated, up to $15,000," Patton said. "The company has donated to local and international causes before, but I thought we could take it one step further and get other businesses involved."
"I saw it as a win-win. The companies can donate to good causes, and the organizations can get help during these trying times."
The companies included Frazier Electric, Inc., Company Wrench, Ricketts Excavating, Inc., Precision Pipeline, LLC, Better Home and Gardens Real Estate Big Hill, and Thompson Concrete.
The money raised in the competition was donated to local non-profits serving residents in need of help with food or shelter. Groups included the Lancaster-Fairfield Community Action Agency, the Lancaster Vineyard Food Pantry and the Lighthouse.
Clint Davis, executive director at LFCAA, said he was excited his organization could be included in the competition.
"During the pandemic, people have been giving more, we've been receiving a lot more donations than we'd usually receive this time of year. We've gotten a lot of local support," he said. "It's incredible, and we're grateful there are people that see the need of the community and respond so well."
Davis added it's been an unusual year due to the pandemic, but even as things begin to return to normal, there will always be a need at local pantries. There might be money coming into a household, but there will still be expenses to cover, like rent or utilities, as landlords and municipalities begin easing payment mitigation.
Davis added he was excited when he heard about the competition, and how big the companies were dreaming, with both the employees donating and the companies matching.
"I'm really glad that we could get the support, but also the other local pantries could be supported to, that the wealth was spread around," he said. "It takes organizations around the county to make sure the everyone in it is fed. It benefits everyone to spread the assistance around to help fill the gaps of people who need help throughout the area."
Of the six businesses, Company Wrench came away victorious, claiming a trophy made of canned food. Brad Hutchinson, owner, said he was aware of the need to local food pantries after his company participated in an Easter basket giveaway.
"I love a good competition, and I'm always looking for opportunities to help people. I know it's a trying time right now for a lot of people," he said. "I'm proud of how much the employees at Company Wrench and Taylor Rental raised during the competition."
In the future, Patton said he is hoping the competition can continue to grow.
"This seems like it could be the start of something cool, I'd like to see it become permanent. When we began brainstorming it, that was the desire. This year we had a good base of people and groups to get the word out, so hopefully that can continue to grow," he said. "This year we had six, but maybe next year we could have 12, then 24 after that."
"I have nothing but high hopes for the future."
blawlis@gannett.com
740-681-4342
@BarrettLawlis
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June 06, 2020 at 08:06PM
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