WBRZ Celebrates Its 29th Annual Food Drive

In response to the increasing need to feed the hungry in its viewing area, Manship Family-owned ABC affiliate WBRZ Baton Rouge, La. (DMA 93), will conduct its 29th annual Feed-A-Family food drive. With the aid of the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank, and the Baton Rouge Clinic, WBRZ will place food collection barrels with the “Feed-A-Family” logo in area grocery stores. Food collected will be distributed through the Food Bank, which services 11 area parishes.

Area residents are urged to place non-perishable food items such as canned goods, dried milk, flour, rice, baby food, etc., in the “Feed-A-Family” barrels from Monday, Oct. 7, through Saturday, Nov. 9. Volunteers will deliver all donations to the Food Bank, where they will be stored and distributed to agencies serving needy individuals. Families needing food should call 211, the United Way Help line, for more information about how to receive donations.

The bulk of the food donated comes from private businesses, East Baton Rouge Parish schools, and grocery stores throughout the WBRZ viewing area. Parents are encouraged to send their children to school with non-perishable food items for school food drives. Business owners are also encouraged to participate. Businesses or individuals that would like to participate in this year’s “Feed-A-Family” food drive should call the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank at (225) 359-9940.

WBRZ will host “Feed-A-Family Friday” on Nov. 8 from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Matherne’s Grocery Store, 7580 Bluebonnet Blvd. WBRZ will broadcast live during 2une In, from 5 to 7 a.m., from the store. Area residents and corporate donors are urged to bring perishable items such as turkeys, hams, fruits or vegetables on “Feed-A-Family Friday.” All perishable items will be delivered to the less fortunate members of the community in time for Thanksgiving. The event is sponsored by Dow Louisiana Federal Credit Union.

Monetary donations are also welcomed or you can donate by visiting WBRZ.com. For every $1 donated, the Food Bank can buy seven meals for those in need. To encourage monetary donations, WBRZ and the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank will promote “Thibodeaux” Turkey and “Pierre” Pig. For each $25 contribution, donors will be able to “adopt” a Thibodeaux or Pierre beanie stuffed animal. Proceeds will be used to purchase turkeys and hams for needy families in our area.

In 2012, WBRZ’s “Feed-A-Family” collected 190,385 pounds of food to provide 158,654 meals to the needy in eleven parishes. Visit WBRZ.com for more information.