HomeMy WebLinkAboutFoodDrop09-11-25
Contact: Marty Doll, Communications Coordinator
Phone 952-826-0396 • Fax 952-826-0390 • Web www.CityofEdina.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Edina Fire Department serves as drop site for Edina school
bus food drive
Edina, Minn., Nov. 25, 2009 –For the second consecutive year, Edina Fire Station No. 1 served as the drop site for a
food drive started by two Edina school bus drivers. Howard Newell and Jackie Washburn originally started the drive as
a friendly competition between their two busses to see who could collect the most food. This year, the district’s other
drivers and their riders decided to answer the call as well.
Between their two busses, Newell and Washburn have helped collect more than 1,500 pounds of food for Volunteers
Enlisted to Assist People (VEAP). This year, with nearly all of the school district’s bus drivers and students involved, the
goal was 8,000 pounds.
“We thought that if the two of us could do this, think of what we could do between all of the buses,” Washburn said.
On Friday, Nov. 20, Washburn, Newell and a contingency of school officials, Edina firefighter/paramedics, local media
representatives and VEAP officials came to Edina Fire Station No. 1 to see the results. While the final total was slightly
short of their goal, bus drivers and students were able to collect more than 6,500 pounds of food. Along with the food
donations, the bus drivers pooled their money to raise an additional $1,000 cash donation for the charity.
“I’m really proud of my associates and my kids,” Newell said. “These kids are going to affect thousands of people, and
they are going see that giving makes a difference.”
Since 1984, the Edina Fire Department has offered up its fire station as a year-round collection site for non-perishable
food donations to VEAP, a non-profit agency serving low-income, elderly and disabled persons in Bloomington, Edina,
Richfield and South Minneapolis. During the holiday season, the Fire Department also collects new, unwrapped toys to
be distributed to less fortunate children through VEAP’s holiday gift store.
“VEAP is a great organization that benefits many, many people right here in our community,” said Edina Fire Chief Marty
Scheerer. “The Fire Department is glad to be able to help out in any way possible.”
For more information, visit www.CityofEdina.com/Fire or call the Edina Fire Department at 952-826-0330.
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Editor’s Note: Photo(s) available on request.