Marshall County united Way Drives Holiday Giving with Celebrity Bagging & Food Drive
Table of Contents
A surge of community support is bolstering the United Way of Marshall County this holiday season, fueled by a successful “celebrity bagging” event and an ongoing countywide Community Food Drive. These initiatives aim to address critical needs,especially in light of recent government challenges impacting access to essential resources.
The annual celebrity bagging event, held Thursday at Food City in Albertville, saw local leaders – including mayors, law enforcement officials, and city council members – volunteer their time to bag groceries in exchange for donations. The event proved to be a notable fundraising opportunity for the United Way. “Big thanks to all our celebrity baggers who chose to dedicate a portion of their busy day to raising money for United Way,” said a senior official with the organization. “Sending love and recognition also to every customer who gave. And shout out to the staff,from cashiers to management,at Food City for all their work to make the Celebrity Bagging event a success!”
Addressing Food Insecurity in Marshall County
Building on the momentum of the bagging event, the United Way has partnered with the Marshall County EMA for its annual Community Food Drive. This year’s drive takes on added urgency due to the current government shutdown and subsequent loss of SNAP benefits for many families. “With the current government shutdown and loss of SNAP benefits, we’re trying especially hard to help stock our local food pantries and partner agencies,” the official continued.
the food drive encourages residents to donate shelf-stable food items while grocery shopping. Convenient drop-off locations are available throughout the county, including all Foodland stores, Douglas Food Valu, Warehouse Discount Groceries in Arab, Dennis Foodland in grant, the Marshall County EMA Office, Marshall County District shops, and fire stations in Albertville, Arab, Boaz, and Guntersville. The drive continues through Tuesday, December 2nd.
What to Donate
Organizers have provided a list of suggested donation items to maximize impact:
- Pantry Staples: Peanut butter, jelly, canned soup or chili, boxed macaroni and cheese.
- Essentials: Bottled water, ramen noodles, pull-tab canned goods, canned meat.
- Beverages & Baking: Tea bags,coffee,coffee creamers,sugar.
- Quick Meals: Mini ravioli, spaghetti-o’s, canned vegetables, pasta, spaghetti and other pasta sauce (preferably with meat).
- Snacks: Salty and sweet snack foods.
The United Way of Marshall County initiated the celebrity bagging event and the community Food Drive to combat rising food insecurity. Who benefited were Marshall County residents, particularly those impacted by the recent government shutdown and loss of SNAP benefits. What happened was a coordinated effort involving local leaders, businesses like Food City and Foodland, the Marshall county EMA, and community members. the celebrity bagging event raised funds, while the food drive collected non-perishable food items. How did it end? The Community Food Drive concluded on Tuesday, December 2nd, with collected items distributed to local food pantries and partner agencies to support families in need. The United Way continues to accept monetary donations to support its ongoing programs.
