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Weight Watchers lose pounds, food to help those in need

‘Lose for Good’ program helps ‘feed a lot of hungry people’

Submitted photo Participants at a Weight Watchers location in Butler Twp. donated 3,000 pounds of food during the organization's "Lose for Good" campaign. Contributed photo

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By Margo Rutledge Kissell Staff Writer, Staff Writer 4:15 PM Thursday, November 12, 2009

About 3,000 pounds of food donated by participants in Weight Watchers’ “Lose for Good” program is now being distributed to those in need through a church food pantry in Dayton.

The nonperishable items were picked up at Weight Watchers meeting places in Kettering and Butler Twp. on Nov. 6 and delivered to the Dayton campus of the Vineyard church, 1222 N. Main St.

Assistant Pastor Scott Sliver, who oversees church campuses in Dayton and Beavercreek, said feeding people is part of their mission.

“We are thrilled to have 3,000 pounds of food,” he said.

“That’s going to feed a lot of hungry people.”

The food will be distributed as bagged groceries to those in the congregation and neighborhood, as well as others in need, according to Sliver.

Marti Shawver, the Greater Dayton/Springfield manager for Weight Watchers, said the organization has worked for 45 years to make a difference in the lives of people trying to lose weight.

“This is one more way we can make a difference,” she said.

The international weight loss organization ran its second annual Lose for Good campaign through mid-October with the goal of feeding families and children.

For every 1 million pounds lost during the six-week period, Weight Watchers committed to donating $250,000 — as much as $1 million.

Members could help fight hunger by losing weight during the food donation drive.

One local woman brought in 75 pounds of food, representing the 75 pounds she had lost.

“It took the help of two grandchildren to help her carry it into the building,” Shawver noted.

The 3,000 pounds of food donated — including 1,000 pounds from members at the North Dixie Towers location in Butler Twp. and 2,000 pounds from those at Oakcreek Center in Kettering — doubled the 1,500 pounds of food donated last year.

It hasn’t been released yet how much has been raised locally but Shawver said the 25-county franchise last year donated $16,000 to Action Against Hunger and Share our Strength.

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