The Shadow
The Alleghany Highlands Kiwanis Club has donated $12,200 and approximately 3,000 food items to area food pantries in recent months.
The organization held its annual Food Drive to support local food pantries during February and March.
In March, the club donated $6,200 and approximately 3,000 food items, evenly split between the four local food pantries as follows:
• COPE Food Pantry: $1,550 and 750 food items;
• South Covington Care Pantry: $1,550 and 750 food items;
• Salvation Army: $1,500 and 750 food items;
• Clifton Forge Area Food Pantry: $1,550 and 750 food items.
Seeing an additional need in the community created by the Coronavirus pandemic, the club made the decision to make another monetary donation in April as follows:
• COPE Food Pantry: $1,500;
• South Covington Care Pantry: $1,500;
• Salvation Army: $1,500;
• Clifton Forge Area Food Pantry: $1,500.
“I am very proud of this club,” said Alleghany Highlands Kiwanis Club President Gary Whitehead. “We were able to double our normal support for the local food pantries by making a second round of donations in the past month.”
One priority of the Alleghany Highlands Kiwanis Club is its support of youth in the area. The club makes significant donations to several important events each year.
The Coronavirus pandemic has impacted several large-budgeted programs such as the Alleghany Highlands Bike Rodeo and 4-H camp scholarships that the club supports with monetary donations.
“We identified a need in the community and were able to shift funds from cancelled or postponed events to areas of need in the community by supporting the local food pantries,” Whitehead added.
Money donated by the club is generated through several major fundraising efforts, including the annual pancake breakfast and golf tournament.
“Our club is extremely pleased to be able to provide assistance to the community in this challenging time of need by making significant donations to all four of the local food pantries,” said Tom Gross, treasurer and fundraising co-chair. “Our fundraising efforts help us support many worthy causes in this area.”
The Alleghany Highlands Kiwanis Club has provided almost 100 years of service to Covington, Clifton Forge and Alleghany County.
