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A FORCE to be reckoned with
South Effingham Middle School wins food collection contest
02.07 FORCE-SEMS
South Effingham Middle School Principal Dr. Mark Winters holds up the trophy presented by the United Way of Effingham County for the school’s first-place effort in collecting canned goods for FORCE. Students are from Brandi Bonorato’s homeroom to represent the school. - photo by Photo by Pat Donahue
Staff Report
Updated: Feb. 28, 2008, 5 a.m.

During the months of November and December several Effingham County schools took on the challenge of collecting canned food items for families in need in our community.  The results are as follows:

1st place, South Effingham Middle - collected 4,964 items

2nd place, Rincon Elementary - collected 2,860 items

3rd place, Ebenezer Middle - collected 3,509 items

4th place, Marlow Elementary - collected 1,090 items

5th place, Blandford Elementary - collected 773 items

All of the donated food items were divided among the Food OutReach Co-Op of Effingham (FORCE) food pantries.  These include God's Mission House, Manna House Ministries, Our Daily Bread Food Pantry and Rincon First Christian Church Pantry.

During 2007 these food pantries provided assistance to 4,127 households in Effingham County. On average, a family of four will receive enough groceries to supplement their food needs for approximately five days.  

The value of five days of groceries is close to $85. Without food drives and other generous donations, many babies, children, teenagers, moms and dads, and senior citizens would go without proper nutrition.