Feed the Hungry, Remember MLK

Feb. 5, 2008 - Martin Luther King’s dream of community service is alive and well at Erie Insurance.

Employees contributed nearly 3,000 pounds of food and personal care items to food pantries throughout our territories last month. They also donated $3,753 toward the purchase of additional food.

Throughout his years of public service, King recognized the power of service to strengthen communities and achieve common goals. Employees demonstrated that same spirit of service by taking action to help the hungry during the week the nation remembers the civil rights leader.

Families helping families

When Home Office Employee Wendy King heard about ERIE’s Martin Luther King food drive, she immediately knew she wanted to participate.

“I grew up in the ’60s, and I have a lot of respect for what Dr. King did,” said King, incoming mail processor, Distribution Services. “I wanted to do something for him.”

So she went shopping.

“I took my two daughters along so we could push several carts,” said King. “We bought so much that we spent nearly an hour in the check-out line.”

Wendy’s husband, Danny, also got in on the action.

“I was responsible for delivering what my wife bought to the Home Office,” said Danny, lead security officer, Facilities Security. “Like Wendy, I believe we are all our brothers’ keepers.”

Food pantries say thanks

Employees all across ERIE’s operating area pitched in cash or canned goods to help replenish dwindling supplies.

Employees in Charlotte, N.C., donated 180 pounds of food.

“Since North Carolina has such a great influx of immigrant populations, there is always a great need at our pantry,” said Patty Palmer, executive director, Matthews Help Center.

“We saw 585 people in December through our holiday program, so in January, our stock of groceries was all but depleted,” Palmer continued. “The food your Employees donated was a tremendous help.”

The same was true at the Mid-Ohio Food Bank in Columbus, Ohio.

“A lot of people want to help during the holidays, but people are hungry year round,” said Claire Badger, Mid-Ohio Food Bank community relations manager. According to Badger, as soon as the 210 pounds of food were delivered to the food bank from ERIE’s Columbus office, it went right back out to families in need.

Palmer and Badger both complimented ERIE on the initiative to help feed the hungry in memory of Dr. King.

“The Erie Insurance Martin Luther King Day initiative was such a fitting symbol of the legacy Dr. King left us,” noted Karen Seggi, executive director of the Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest Pennsylvania. “Together we can make our world a better place.”

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