Friday, July 22, 2011
UnitedHealthcare and Salem Red Sox food drive nets 3 tons
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Once again, Roanoke Valley residents are being praised for their giving spirit.
During the week of July 11-17, Feeding America Southwest Virginia received more than 3 tons of food from a drive led by employees at UnitedHealthcare and the Salem Red Sox.
About 1.6 pounds of food equals a meal, said Dennis Robarge, director of sales for the Salem Red Sox. The weeklong drive yielded 7,312 pounds of food.
"I think it's a tremendous credit to the giving spirit of our fans," Robarge said.
Contributors were offered vouchers for an August baseball game of their choice if they brought a nonperishable food item to a game or donated at one of four Food Lion grocery stores during the week.
Donations, which also were accepted at LewisGale Medical Center, exceeded a similar drive last year, Robarge said.
"Three tons of food speaks well of the people we have in the Roanoke Valley," said Mike Weneta, UnitedHealthcare's Roanoke site manager.
Some people didn't accept the vouchers, Weneta said, adding, they "just wanted to help out."
More than 152 UnitedHealthcare employees volunteered more than 1,337 hours during the drive, organizing, collecting food at different locations, including the Salem ball park, and processing donations at the food bank.
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The Roanoke Public Libraries are seeking computer instructors and assistants for the 2011-12 AmeriCorps Computer Literacy Program.
Instructors and assistants will provide individual computer assistance to library patrons and conduct computer classes from September 2011 through August 2012.
AmeriCorps offers opportunities for adults of all ages and backgrounds to serve their communities through a network of partnerships with local and national nonprofit groups.
Members receive a living allowance, depending on the number of hours they serve. They also receive an educational award, which is transferable to their children, grandchildren or foster children, for successful completion of their service.
The deadline for applications is Aug.1. Applications -- which are available on the AmeriCorps website, www.americorps.gov -- should be attached to an application on the library's AmeriCorps program website at bit.ly/rplamericorps.
Contact Wendy Allen at wendy.allen@roanokeva.gov for additional information on the program or for assistance with the application process.
