WILLMAR -- Donations to Friday's Radio for Relief food and fundraising effort benefitting the Willmar Area Food Shelf exceeded last year's donations.
Food Shelf Executive Director Christie Kurth said $29,763 and 12,460 pounds of food were donated for a combined total of 42,223 dollars and pounds.
During last year's Radio for Relief effort, combined donations of dollars and pounds totaled $33,053, Kurth said.
Radio for Relief is sponsored by the four Lakeland Broadcasting radio stations and was held at the Willmar Fire Station. Kurth was pleased the effort.
"It was awesome,'' she said. "That was just unbelievable that we increased our end amount by over 9,000.''
ADVERTISEMENT
The event was part of the Food Shelf's effort to raise 140,000 combined dollars and pounds during the 28th annual statewide FoodShare Drive in March.
So far, the Food Shelf has received 89,211 combined dollars and pounds toward the goal of 140,000 dollars and pounds.
Contributions can be made through April 2, said Kurth. Food donations help stock the Food Shelf and cash donations are used to buy food from Second Harvest Heartland Food Bank in St. Paul.
"Some nonprofit organizations are struggling and we seem to be a little ahead of last year at this point,'' said Kurth. "It's hard to say where we'll end up for sure, especially because we increased our goal.''
-- David Little
