Denver, CO - On a chilly Saturday morning, under mostly sunny skies, thousands of people across Colorado joined in the 28th annual 9Cares Colorado Shares Holiday Drive, giving more than 431,000 pounds of food and $132,000, shattering last year's all-time cash record for the event.
"With the economy beginning to show signs of improvement, and people feeling better about their circumstances, it's clear Coloradans were in a giving mood," said 9News President and General Manager, Mark Cornetta. "The people of 9NEWS were able to tap into that generous spirit for one of the most successful 9Cares ever. I'm always proud of our employees, but my heart is truly filled by the tremendous support from so many people throughout our community, and of course, our partners and sponsors of 9Cares."
This year's total food donations were up more than 6% from last year's 202 tons and cash donations, driven by the 9Cares Corporate Challenge, on-line donations and a huge showing from Southwest Plaza, easily eclipsed last year's (then record) total of $115,000, up by 15%.
Since the first 9Cares in March 1983, the annual effort has grown from a modest food drive with a single collection site at the old 9NEWS Building at Bannock and 11th to the largest one-day food, clothing, and toy drive in our region-with more than 30 sites across the state. Below is a breakdown of the results we've received so far:
|
SITE
|
Food Donations (in pounds)
|
Cash Donations
|
|
9NEWS
|
49,800
|
$10,787
|
|
American Furniture Warehouse
|
50,600
|
$8,302
|
|
Inverness
|
53,918
|
$11,659
|
|
Southwest Plaza
|
57,850
|
$21,901
|
|
Town Center at Aurora
|
41,700
|
$5,817
|
|
9Cares Corporate Challenge
|
47,130
|
$23,730
|
|
Combined 28 Remote Sites
|
105,087
|
$19,473
|
|
King Soopers Bins
|
25,000
|
$20,000
|
|
On-line and Mail-in Donations
|
n/a
|
$10,456
|
|
TOTAL
|
431,085
|
$132,125
|
9Cares believes that items donated in a community should stay in that community. Food collected in the Denver metro area is now being sorted by volunteers at FoodWorks Colorado, formerly COMPA ministries, and will be distributed to the more than 115 food banks in the 9Cares networks. Outside the metro area, 28 individual food banks host the 9Cares drive, and then keep all the food they collect. Clothing was collected by ARC Thrift and Goodwill, which will in turn provide local clothing banks with vouchers. Toys collected will be distributed to families in need by the Denver Santa Claus Shop and its affiliates.
We would also like to thank all of the companies that make 9Cares possible. The following is a list of our partners and sponsors:
American Furniture Warehouse
Arc Thrift Stores
Colorado Port of Entry
Deline Box & Display
Denver Area Council Boy Scouts of America
Denver Santa Claus Shop
FedEx
FoodWorks Colorado
Goodwill
King Soopers
Little Caesars Pizza
S & B PortaBowl Restrooms
Waste Connections of Colorado, Inc.
Welch Equipment Company
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