A couple of weeks ago, I get the following email from Jim, Corporate Communications Manager for Ferrellgas Propane:
“…we’re going to have a cookout tomorrow to benefit Harvesters. It’s from 11:30 to 1 if you want to drop by. Bring a donation of non-perishable food or a small monetary gift and we’ll feed you. I’d love to have you come if you can.”
Jim and Ferrellgas have been huge supporters of Cells for Cells, so it is a very simple decision for me to attend and bring some money to help out. And I like the invitation – just a simple request to help out. That speaks volumes to me.
There was a tent set up in the parking lot of their office complex, the Lighton Plaza; and I could see the bbq smoke from way across the complex. I ate a hamburger and chips and beans. I love grilled hamburgers. (This was the REAL reason why it was easy for me to say yes!)
When I arrived, my very first thought was, “How successful will this cookout be with the economy as it is?”
Well, the results are in and they are impressive:
Jim writes to me, “We ended up with about 350 attendees, $3500.00 raised and what we’ll call a mountain of food collected. Harvesters is going to try to get us a pound total for the food donation, but I think that ‘a mountain’ does it justices.”
Jim told me that Harvesters has 4:1 buying power, meaning that that $3500.00 raised actually will buy $14,000.00 worth of food for Kansas Citians in need.
All I can say is “Job Well Done, Ferrellgas!” Jim, you did an impressive job and many families are going to be helped by your efforts. I know that many other companies and the Lighton Plaza contributed to the success of the cookout – so to everyone else that helped organize and to everyone that gave, thank you for showing Kansas City how to give during these tough times.
Oh, and I did walk away with a new Tshirt from Lighton Plaza. I love Tshirts!
