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State Representative Joe Atkins
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-4192
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Press/News Releases
Rep. Atkins’ Parade Food Drive Expected to Hit Major Milestone on Saturday
St. Paul, Minnesota — The Parade Food Drive started by state Representative Joe Atkins (Inver Grover Heights) is expected to hit 25,000 pounds of donated food, school, and household supplies at the Inver Grove Heights Days Parade this Saturday, September 8, 2012.
“I am just amazed that we’re about to reach 25,000 pounds of donations,” said Rep. Atkins. “When we started the Parade Food Drive in 1997, we hoped to collect 25 pounds or maybe 250 pounds of donations. The staggering 25,000-pound figure we expect to hit on Saturday was beyond my wildest dreams back when we launched this very unusual food drive 16 years ago, and is a true testament to the generosity of our community and to the efforts of the hard-working volunteers who have helped out with the food drive over the years.”
Volunteers at the food drive push grocery carts lent by Cub Foods down the parade route, collecting donation from parade-goers along the way. At the end of the parade, the donations are transported by Bester Bros. Moving Company to Neighbors, Inc., the local food shelf. All of the donations go to help local families in need.
The idea for this unique food drive came to Rep. Atkins at the Kaposia Days Parade in South St. Paul in 1997.
“Just prior to the parade, I met with then-director Harv Bartz of Neighbors, our local food shelf, who said late summer was when our food shelf reached its very lowest point,” said Rep. Atkins. “Harv was looking for ways to address that problem. That evening I happened to attend the Kaposia Days parade, watching from my cousin’s front lawn on 5th Avenue. As each of the politicians came by, my cousins would comment on what a ‘waste of space’ they were in the parade. The food shelf’s dire need, together with my hope to be something other than a ‘waste of space’ in the upcoming IGH Days Parade, gave rise to the idea for our food drive.”
The idea was a lot easier to come up with that first year than volunteers, Atkins said.
“Most thought I’d lost my mind when I suggested my odd approach for a food drive. I still remember the grocery store manager’s incredulous look back then when I described why I needed to borrow grocery carts. Fortunately, the members of the IGH City Council, along with my kids and their friends, and groups like Simley's varsity soccer teams and National Honor Society, have stepped up over the years to make the food drive the success it is.
“My heartfelt appreciation goes out to every one of our volunteers as well as to all of our donors over the years. With your help, we are poised to reach the 25,000-pound milestone on Saturday. That's a lot of help for families in need in our community.”
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