<\/p>\n
WILKES-BARRE \u2014 Wilkes-Barre City employees donated boxes of non-perishable food items to CEO\u2019s Weinberg Northeast Regional Food Bank on Wednesday as part of a friendly competition between all five city departments.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were completely on board with [Mayor George C. Brown\u2019s idea for a food drive,]\u201d said CEO Chief Executive Jennifer Warabak as she stood on Public Square, in the snow, waiting for the donations to arrive.<\/p>\n
All five departments collectively donated 6,460 pounds of food. The Wilkes-Barre City Police Department ultimately won the competition by making the largest donation of 5,246 pounds.<\/p>\n
Wilkes-Barre City Fire Department donated 568 pounds, followed by the Wilkes-Barre City Health Department with 322 pounds, the Department of Public Works with 177 pounds, and City Hall with 137 pounds.<\/p>\n
According to Warabak, mass donations like this are important because it brings additional food products into the food bank, which it in turn distributes to the community.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe definitely see an increase in demand before Thanksgiving right through the holiday season, in particular this year. It\u2019s difficult, a lot of households are dealing with increased costs, whether it\u2019s housing or food or utilities, so any donation like this helps those in the community directly,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
All of the donations collected on Wednesday will stay within the local Wilkes-Barre community and will be divided up between the food bank and food pantries in the city.<\/p>\n
Brown thanked the police officers, fire fighters and public works department employees who helped load CEO\u2019s truck on Wednesday, as well as everyone who collected food for the drive.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou guys are creating a wonderful abundance of food for CEO now. Because of your dedication, this truck is going to be just about filled by the time we leave today,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The competition may just become a holiday tradition.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think we should do this as a yearly,\u201d said Brown.<\/p>\n
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