Published Wednesday, December 02, 2009

Community chips in for annual Can-A-Thon

By Sarah Fay Campbell

The Newnan Times-Herald

Cowetans responded like never before for this year's Can-A-Thon.

When the numbers were tallied Tuesday night, the grand total was a whopping 362,894 in canned goods and cash equivalents for the 26th annual event. Financial contributions are calculated at four cans per dollar.

Lora Beck, Can-A-Thon chairwoman for the Newnan Junior Service League, which sponsors the annual event, said she was blown away "by the generosity of our community. Every year they step up to the challenge," she said.

The goal for this year's event was 325,000.

The students and employees at Coweta's public schools collected 266,850 items. The Heritage School collected some 23,000 in cans and cash equivalent, thanks in part to a $5,000 donation by the school's receptionist and her husband.

Collection volunteers were busy all day at the main drop-off point on North Court Square in downtown Newnan. Motorists dropped off their donations, and many churches, businesses, and organizations, as well as local government employees, stopped by to drop off items they had collected over the course of the Can-A-Thon. The total for the downtown drop-off was 22,411.

Downtown Senoia's drop-off point was a success, too, with over $1,600 and several hundred food items donated.

"This is just great," said Tom Corker, who worked with the Junior League to start the Can-A-Thon 26 years ago.

"It shows the compassion of Coweta County. Even though this year has seen some of the worst economic times in history, they have come through with more cans and cash than ever before."

Though Tuesday was the official end of the Can-A-Thon, it's the beginning of the biggest part of the work -- checking, sorting, boxing and shelving thousands of items.

Volunteers can help out at the Coweta Community Food Pantry anytime between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

For more information, contact the pantry at 770-683-7705.