SCOTTSBLUFF — Five years ago, the staff at Gary’s Cleaning and Restoration realized the food pantry was bare at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Scottsbluff. So they began brainstorming for ideas to address the problem.
They started with a canned food drive with the name I Can, You Can, We Can. In five years, the drive grew to the point where the group became a nonprofit to help people in need, no matter what time of year.
“We started offering discounts to our business for people who brought in canned goods,” said spokesperson Jill Pleick. “Then other businesses got involved and offered incentives. This year, a few of the banks that are collecting canned food had a challenge among their employees to see which team brought in the most.”
Katie Gompert, director of marketing with Platte Valley Companies, said her company has been a part of I Can, You Can, We Can for the past three years. Employees enjoy the friendly competition as they see who can bring in the most food items. With the employee drive just completed, they collected an average of 80 canned food items per employee.
“We live in such a great community,” Gompert said. “This food drive is a great opportunity for us to give back to those who might be in need this holiday season.”
Pleick said that because food pantries need to be stocked year-round, the I Can, You Can, We Can program also collects during the summer and other times of the year.
Becca Tompkins, director of marketing at First State Bank, said the company has been participating in I Can, You Can, We Can since its inception. Bank locations serve as drop-off points for the public to bring in nonperishable food items. Employees also use the drive as a challenge to see who can bring in the most items. Bank administration also helps out with donations to the food drive.
“We’ve just wrapped up our Gift of Love program that helps in so many different ways,” Tompkins said. “We want to continue that season of service with the food drive. It’s another way for us to give back and help assure the people of our community are taken care of.”
With the program’s increased awareness on the Our Lady of Guadalupe food pantry, local residents are donating directly to them throughout the year.
“Their program helps a large part of the community and feeds a lot of people,” Pleick said. “They serve more than just their own neighborhood, but reach out to the entire community. There are so many people in need in this area, and not just for food.”
Fr. Jonathan Sorensen, priest at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, said their food pantry serves hundreds of people each year, many who are not church members. The pantry is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 12:30-3 p.m. at 1102 12th Ave. in Scottsbluff.
“People come from all over the area,” Sorensen said. “Many of them are just in need of a little assistance during hard times. I’d estimate we serve about 30 families a week.”
Nonperishable food donations for the I Can, You Can, We Can program are still being accepted through the end of 2017. Drop off locations are Ideal Linen, Plaza Foods, Gary’s Cleaning and Restoration, Tree House Interiors and First State Bank.
