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2020 Cram the Van collects equivalent of 16 tons of food
This marks record-breaking year for annual food drive
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COURTESY PHOTO Regan Reif (right), Wheatland Electric member services and key accounts manager, presents a check to representatives of the Community Food Bank of Barton County for cash donations made from Cram the Van events in Great Bend.
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COURTESY PHOTO Regan Reif (right), Wheatland Electric member services and key accounts manager, and Matt Hiss of Hiss Sherman Wealth Management Group (left), present a $500 check to students and staff of Central Kansas Christian Academy in Great Bend.
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COURTESY PHOTO Regan Reif (right), Wheatland Electric member services and key accounts manager, and Matt Hiss of Hiss Sherman Wealth Management Group (left), present a $500 check to students and staff of Central Kansas Christian Academy in Great Bend.
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COURTESY PHOTO Regan Reif (right), Wheatland Electric member services and key accounts manager, and Matt Hiss of Hiss Sherman Wealth Management Group (left), present a $200 check to staff at Riley Elementary School of Great Bend.

SCOTT CITY – Wheatland Electric’s 2020 Cram the Van season has raised the equivalent of 32,206 pounds of food for 11 area food banks across their service territory, more than any year since its inception in 2014. 

Since its inaugural season and including this year’s totals, Wheatland Electric has facilitated the collection of more than 63 tons (127,733 pounds) of food donations, thanks to the generosity of the members and communities they serve. To date, all donations have been delivered to the local food banks in the communities in which they were donated. 

For the fourth year, the Hiss-Sherman Wealth Management Group sponsored the Great Bend School Competition from Oct. 12-16. Through collaboration with USD 428 schools, Central Kansas Christian Academy, and Holy Family Elementary, the students brought in over 4,500 pounds of food during this week-long competition.

Central Kansas Christian Academy claimed first place again this year and received $500 for their efforts in collecting an average of over 18 pounds of food donations per student. Jefferson Elementary School received $300 for their second-place victory. Riley Elementary School took third place and received $200. 

Additionally this year, Hiss-Sherman Wealth Management gave $100 to the six other schools (Eisenhower Elementary School, Park Elementary School, Lincoln Elementary School, Great Bend Middle School, Great Bend High School, and Holy Family Elementary School) who participated in the challenge. 

Due to the special challenges surrounding the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Wheatland Electric held six donation drive-ins during the months of October and November to facilitate the collection of both cash and can donations from members in exchange for a pre-packaged hamburger or hot-dog meal. 

Thanks to these donations, additional online donations, and proceeds collected from the second-annual Co-Ops Cares Charity Golf Tournament, held Aug. 28, at Mariah Hills Golf Course in Dodge City, Wheatland Electric has delivered the e 16 tons of food to 11 local food banks within their southwest and southcentral service territory. 

These area food banks include the following: Ministerial Alliance in Scott City – 4,045 pounds; Wichita County Food Bank in Leoti;– 3,096 pounds; Greeley County Food Pantry in Tribune – 2,596 pounds; Hamilton County Food Pantry in Syracuse – 2,679 pounds; Horns for Hope c/o USD 363 in Holcomb – 1,927 pounds; Emmaus House and Genesis Family Health in Finney County – 3,394 pounds; Community Food Bank of Barton County in Great Bend – 7,590 pounds; Harper Mission Mart in Harper – 2,152 pounds; United Methodist Food Pantry and Caldwell Food Bank in Caldwell– 2,055 pounds; and Conway Springs – 2,672 pounds.

For more information about Cram the Van, visit www.weci.net/cram-van-food-drive.