WAYNE – It was another successful year following the Seventh annual Runza Feeds the Need Fundraiser where organizations focusing on youth hunger and food insecurity were benefitted.
Locally that was the Wayne Food Pantry and School Backpack Program in Wayne.
In total, Runza donated $45,679.02 with a new record. The Wayne Runza will be donating $447.66 to the food pantry and school backpack food program.
Now in seven years, Runza Corporate has donated over $258,000.
In 2012, there were 107 households that included 454 people who utilized the Wayne Food Pantry. That grew at most to 1,196 people in 2019 and recently to 912 people in 2023.
The backpack program made 345 total backpacks during the 2012-13 school year and summer which followed by increasing to over 3,500 the next year. To date in the 2023-24 school year, there have been over 5,000 backpacks sent out providing a weekend supply of nutritious food for chidden when school lunch and breakfast are unavailable.
All children are eligible for the Wayne County Backpack program.
For more information on how to donate or volunteer to either the food pantry or backpack program, reach out to First Presbyterian Church in Wayne at 402-375-2669 or Dr. Jodi Pulfer at 402-375-2285.
