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NEWS BRIEFS
Verizon, employees donate $2,500 to food bank
From left Erin Highlander and Tiffany Tatum of the Huntington Area Food Bank accept a donation from Verizon store manager Melissa Williamson, marketing manager Marla Perry, and government sales manager David Ombres on Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012, in Huntington.
Purchase this photoHUNTINGTON -- The Huntington Area Food Bank received a helping hand from a community partner Wednesday in the form of a $2,500 donation from Verizon Wireless.
The gift, according to Melissa Williamson, retail sales manager of the Pullman Square Verizon Wireless location, was an important offering for not only the company, but its local employees. The money was designated to help with recovery and rebuilding for those affected by Hurricane Sandy.
"We have a lot of people in West Virginia and the surrounding area who still don't have power, who lost all their food, who don't have any supplies, and it was important for Verizon Wireless both nationally and locally to help the people who are in need at this time," Williamson said. "With this donation to the Huntington Area Food Bank, they'll be able to get the food where it is needed."
Tiffany Tatum, interim director of the Huntington Area Food Bank, said gifts both large and small help the food bank further its mission.
"Verizon was kind enough to donate this check. Because we rely strictly on donations, this $2,500 will help us provide meals to 15,000 food-insecure individuals. It will go a long way to provide more resources for people to have access to," Tatum said.
The food bank serves 260 member agencies in 12 counties in West Virginia, four counties in Kentucky and Lawrence County, Ohio.
"We are ready with resources to help people build back up what they lost. It's great to see individuals and agencies pulling together in the community," Tatum said. "It's just a wonderful thing."
In addition to Wednesday's monetary donations, Verizon locations are serving as drop-off points for nonperishable food donations through Dec. 3. Items can be dropped off at the Pullman Square, Ashland and Teays Valley Verizon Wireless locations.
