It was anybody’s guess as to how much the 2020 version of Walk & Knock would bring in as a Drive & Drop.
The annual local food drive that benefits the Clark County Food Bank did better than anyone’s guess.
Some 130,000 pounds of food and a record $110,000 came in.
“I’m so proud of our community stepping up when times are down,” Walk & Knock President Tom Knappenberger said in a statement. “While we didn’t collect as much food as last year, we received more than 10 times our usual financial contributions. And we did it all safely.”
The boost in cash donations came from an anonymous $50,000 gift — the largest ever received by Walk & Knock.
Normal cash donations usually around $10,000 total.
But we all know, 2020 isn’t normal.
“We thought we’d receive more financial contributions because of the virus,” Knappenberger said. “But this is a staggering amount.”
The food drive changed to Drive & Drop this year to keep volunteers who would normally be knocking on doors for donations throughout Clark County safe as possible from COVID-19.
Eight drive-up donation sites were set up around the county on Dec. 5 to keep the 36-year tradition rolling.
“The response was heartwarming,” Knappenberger said. “On a busy Saturday before Christmas, hundreds of people found time to drive and drop off their donations. It reminds you what a great community we have.”
The food and financial donations will provide more than 500,000 meals.
Knappenberger said people liked the postcards sent to everyone in Clark County, a substitute for the traditional grocery bags. Walk & Knock’s board of directors will review the Drive & Drop operation and see what changes might be incorporated into the traditional food drive.
“We need to be open to changes in society, how people live and work,” Knappenberger said. “There were some really good things about Drive & Drop we might incorporate into next year’s drive.”
In its 36 years, the Walk & Knock program has brought in more than 8.7 million pounds of food.
