White River Brings Food Drive to Ava

White River Valley Electric Cooperative employee Ray Roy talks with shopper Ginger Harmon about the company’s annual Food Drive Friday at the Town & Country store in Ava. White River’s team collected cash and canned goods for the Heart of the Hills food pantry.

White River Valley Electric Cooperative employees (and family) Trish Ruth, Tim Shafer & son Ty (3), Curtis King, Ray Roy, Dani Wheelan, Kelsey Pemberton, and Twilia Alcorn teamed up Friday at the Town & Country store in Ava to collect cash and canned goods for the Heart of the Hills food pantry.

(Ava, MO) – Every year for the past five years, White River Electric Cooperative has conducted a Food Drive in the fall to benefit food pantries in the five counties it serves.

Friday, Nov. 2, employees (and family) were in Douglas County collecting cans and cash for the Heart of the Hills food pantry in Ava.

After the day in Ava, Programs Coordinator Kelsey Pemberton reported that the  current total is 797 pounds of food and $1,913.74 in cash donations. 

“Every dollar in cash donations translates to $10 worth of food to the food pantries,” she said.

White River employee Curtis King, has participated in the effort for years. 

“For me,” he said, “It’s about giving back and being thankful for what we’ve been given.”

White River’s final Food Drive will be this coming Friday, November 9 in Branson.

Employees staff the Food Drive, make donations themselves, and have the opportunity to give a portion of each paycheck to charity, Pemberton said.