Wheatland Electric is extending its largest Cram the Van school competition in Great Bend through Friday, Nov. 5.
This effort is being made on behalf of the cooperative and sponsored in order to collect additional non-perishable food donations for the Community Food Bank of Barton County.
All USD 428 schools, Holy Family School and Central Kansas Christian Academy are competing to win cash prizes totaling $1,000, generously sponsored by the Hiss Sherman Wealth Management in Great Bend.
The school that collects the most weight in donations by Nov. 5 (per student) will win a first-place cash prize of $500. Second- and third-place schools will win $300 and $200, respectively.
The school competition that began Oct. 25 was originally slated to end Oct. 29. The extension provides additional time for Great Bend students and their families to collect food donations, if they so choose, and bring to their local school.
All food donations will be weighed by Wheatland employees and delivered to the Community Food Bank of Barton County in November.
Wheatland Electric thanks school administrators and officials for helping Cram the Van in 2021. And a special thank you to the Hiss Sherman Wealth Management Group for their faithful annual sponsorship of the school competition since 2017.
This year’s Cram the Van motto is “Yes WE Can!” signifying Wheatland’s renewed commitment to supporting local food banks across their southwest and south-central service territory.
Cash and can donations will also be accepted at the new Great Bend office, 200 10th St., through Nov. 5. Monetary donations can also be made online at https://www.weci.net/cram-van-food-drive through the same date. As a special thanks, all online donors will be entered for a chance to win a Traeger Tailgater Grill (value: $500) for each $10 they donate.
Donors are able to specify the agency or food pantry they wish to donate to when making their online donation. For questions, contact Wheatland Electric by dialing 620-793-4223 or email memberservices@weci.net.
About Cram the Van
Every fall since 2014, Wheatland Electric has hosted community gatherings, school competitions and other events to collect donations for local food banks across their service territory.
The annual food drive is coined “Cram the Van” thanks to their signature fleet vehicle: a red, extended passenger van used to collect and deliver donations.
Over the past seven years, and thanks to the generosity of the communities they serve, Wheatland has been able to facilitate the collection of more than 63 tons (127,733 pounds) of food for local food banks across southwest and southcentral Kansas.
All contributions are always delivered to the community food bank where the donations are made. For more information visit https://www.weci.net/cram-van-food-drive.
