Football And Food Go Together At Fairmount

The partnering of food and football at Fairmount has resulted in a win for all involved. On Nov. 1, Fairmount, 333 Wheat Ridge Drive, Ephrata, kicked off its fourth food drive in three years. Organized by team captains Valley View licensed practical nurse Holly Keim and registered nurse Katie Seibert, who works in rehabilitation, the drive ran through Nov. 15, scoring more than 1,100 pounds of food for CrossNet Ministries Food and Nutrition Center in New Holland.

Bringing together food and football for a touchdown was the brainchild of housekeeping employee Andy Miller. The goal was for employees to put food items on tables designated for either Steelers fans or Eagles fans. A few rogue Cowboys fans devised their own play to score donations in their team's name.

Among the food items requested by the organizers were canned goods, such as corn; baby foods; pasta sauces; salad dressings: mayonnaise; and crackers. Non-food items included facial tissues, paper towels, laundry detergent, and personal care items. Amy Marburger, food and nutrition manager with CrossNet Ministries, was thrilled to receive the various food items. "This was such an incredible gift for our food programs," said Marburger. "We were able to restock several of the items we needed on our food pantry shelves and for the buddy bag program." Marburger noted that the help is especially appreciated at this time of year. "Food donations are down, and participation is rising. This will help us meet the needs through Christmas," she said.

Response to the effort has grown continually since Keim and Seibert organized the first drive down the field in 2020. Seeing the need in the ELANCO community, the friends held two drives during 2021. Carol Swailes, Fairmount public relations coordinator, said that she had seen donors delivering cases of soup and ketchup as part of a strategy to add to the contributions. Seibert noted that most donations are made by Fairmount team players, including staff members and residents in independent living.

At the end of the drive, Eagles fans had out-collected Steelers fans to reach the endzone. "(The winners) get the satisfaction of knowing they helped tackle hunger," said Keim with a chuckle.

More information about the mission of Faimount may be found at http://www.FairmountHomes.org.