Photos provided by Beth Riley The Fallon/Churchill Fire Department receiving their trophy this year
Last Sunday local first responders collected 27,260 pounds of food for needy families in the 5th Annual First Responder Holiday Food Competition. Organized by Beth Riley, the food drive this year came in nearly 8,000 pounds ahead of the total 19,540 pounds collected last year. The food drive has provided 73,000 pounds of food to Northern Nevada food banks over the past five years.
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The day begins with participating agencies; the Fallon Police Department, Fallon/Churchill Fire Department, Search and Rescue, the Churchill County Sheriff’s office, Banner Churchill Community Hospital EMS, and the Fallon Shoshone Tribal Police Department meeting at the Golden Gate Gas Station scales for the weigh in at 10:00 a.m. Each agency brings whatever exciting vehicle will catch people’s attention, and when the weigh in is complete, everyone caravans over to Walmart with sirens blaring and lights flashing.
Once again, the Fallon/Churchill Fire Department was victorious, gathering 9,180 pounds of food for the win, ahead of the Fallon Police Department with 8,080 pounds, the Sheriff’s Office with 4,120, Banner Ambulance crew with 2,640 pounds, Search and Rescue gathered 2,260 pounds, and Nevada Highway Patrol with 980 pounds.
At the end of day, after the weigh ins, each of the agencies travels over to the Out of Egypt food pantry building, backing into the big garage doors where community volunteers help unload the food. According to the food pantry volunteers, the food collected allows the food pantry to feed needy community members for up to six months.
Thank you, Fallon Post.