After more than a year of campaigning against each other, the two major political parties in Mason County are turning that rivalry into something good.
“We want to work together, we want to show that, locally, the two political parties here in Mason County can work together for a positive,” says Ed Miller, chair of the Mason County Democratic Party.
Red vs Blue. Elephants vs. Donkeys. The election season was long and exhausting but in Mason County the two parties are still challenging each other, this time in a two month canned food drive.
“No matter whether you’re Republican or Democrat, whether you have an R or a D by your name,” says Miller, “We want to help the people here locally in Mason County.”
All food and goods will be donated to the Lakeshore Food Club.
“I know there is a lot of discord in the country lately but it’s really nice to see you these two groups come together and try to join forces for good,” says Lake shore Food Club program coordinator Kate Lietz.
The hope is to key off the competitiveness of the two parties to bring in a major donation for the food club in a slow time of the year.
“One person already said at the last meeting, ‘I’ll turn in my IRA if I have to!’” says Layla McClelland, events coordinator for the Mason County Republicans.
In a situation like this there are no winners or losers but the party that finishes in second will also have to throw in a $50 donation
“We want to winners to be the needy here in Mason County,” says Miller.
Elected officials from both parties stress improving the lives of every Michigander, this is a grassroots effort to help out the neediest sector.
“We serve about 500 to 600 families every month which is a lot of people,” says Lietz.
The big scoreboard for these two parties falls on Election Day but doesn’t make this challenge any less competitive.
“Somebody is going to lose 50 bucks and it’s going to go to a good cause,” says McClelland.
If you want to join the challenge, the Republicans are accepting donations at McClelland’s home at 309 N. Harrison Street in Ludington. She can be reached 231-845-6300. They can also be reached on their Facebook page Mason County GOP.
The Democrats are accepting donations at their next two meetings, on February 7 and March 7 The meetings will be held at the Ludington Center for the Arts at 107 S. Harrison Street at 7:00 pm. Call (231) 757-3729 to have donations picked up. They can also be reached on their Facebook page Mason County Democratic Party.
