Final Push Needed For March Food Drive

Today on the Dave and Dave Show, Meg Kearns from the CHUM Emergency Food Shelf in Duluth says contributions are lagging in their March food drive from the same time last year.  Despite a 14 percent increase in demand for their services, the food shelf cash donations are down by 2 percent and the food donations are off by a whopping 71 percent.  Kearns is hoping people are conducting food drives and waiting until the last minute before delivering what they collect.  The March food drive is especially important because the Minnesota Food Share Campaign offers matching funds for what is donated locally.  Monetary or non perishable food donations can be dropped off or mailed to the CHUM Food Shelf at 120 North 1st Avenue West in Duluth.  Among the most need food at this time is canned corn and canned tuna although a cash donation allows them to buy what they need at a much lower price. 

We also heard from Duluth Airport Executive Director, Brian Ryks, who was elated that  Governor Pawlenty kept the 11.7 million dollars for the reconstruction of the passenger terminal building in the bonding bill.  That state money will help to leverage about 45 million in federal funding for the project that is being done in stages and should be complete in two or three years.