First Choice Power Teams Up With Texas Trails Boy Scout Council, Big Country Balloon Festival to Provide Meals for West Texans in Need
Partnership Supports West Central Texas Food Bank with Canned Food Drive This Weekend
ABILENE – First Choice Power has invited the Abilene community to help fight hunger this weekend by hosting a canned food drive for all attendees of the Big Country Balloon Fest. As part of the Boy Scouts 100th anniversary celebrated at the festival, First Choice Power also has challenged the troops of the Texas Trails Council of the Boy Scouts of America to compete in collecting canned food for a chance to win prizes for first, second and third place. The troop that brings the most canned food will be announced during the Balloon Fest. All donations from the Boy Scouts and the on-site canned food drive will benefit the West Central Texas Food Bank.
“We have had a difficult summer and are in great need of donations,” said Jody Houston, director of the West Central Texas Food Bank in Abilene. “We are so grateful for First Choice Power’s commitment to fighting hunger and for the Boy Scouts’ willingness to contribute, so that we can continue to be a resource for Abilene residents in need.”
Collection bins will be placed at the shuttle bus pick-up area at the Mall of Abilene and at the information tent of the Big Country Balloon Fest. Donations may be made starting at 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 24, until 8 p.m. on Saturday, Sept, 25. The Boy Scout troops will be displaying their canned food donations at the Boy Scout headquarters at Redbud Park and will join the First Choice Power and Balloon Fest teams for a photo opportunity at noon on Saturday, Sept. 25.
The canned food drive is part of First Choice Power’s Food First™ program that aims to provide 1 million meals to Texans in need. Throughout September, a month deemed Hunger Action Month by Feeding America ®, First Choice Power has been conducting canned food drives, raising awareness for hunger in Texas through social media and providing donations to food bank partners across the state.
“Our Scouts are committed to their motto of ‘doing a good turn daily,’” said Mike Dunahoo, president of the Texas Trails Council. “Since Texas ranks as the third state in most need when it comes to hunger, we are making this cause a priority this month. We hope our fellow Abilene residents will join us to help our neighbors in need.”
To learn more about First Choice Power’s Food First™ program, visit www.firstchoicepower.com/community. For more details on the Big Country Balloon Festival, visit www.bigcountryballoonfest.com. The event is free and open to the public.
About the Texas Trails Council
The Texas Trails Council is a non-profit community based youth serving organization that serves Brown, Callahan, Coleman, Comanche, Eastland, Erath, Fisher, Haskell, Jones, Lampasas, Mills, Nolan, North Runnels, San Saba, Shackelford, Stephens, Stonewall, and Taylor counties in North Central Texas. The council provides programs in each community for boys in the first grade through age 20 and coed programs for youth through various Scouting Programs. The Texas Trail Council, Boy Scouts of America, issues charters to community organizations to operate local Scouting Units.
About the Big Country Balloon Fest
The 16th Annual Big Country Balloon Festival is sponsored by the Optimist Club of Abilene and takes place Sept. 24-25, 2010 at Redbud Park in Abilene. The event features family fun including hot air balloon rides, food and live entertainment. For more information and a schedule of events, visit www.bigcountryballoonfest.com.
About First Choice Power
First Choice Power is an energy company committed to identifying what is most important to our customers and putting their needs first. Texas business and residential can depend on First Choice Power for competitive pricing and excellent customer service. First Choice Power is committed to giving back to the communities it serves through its Food First ™ hunger initiative, Reduce Your Use Grants™ and Classroom Energy Innovation Grants™. Learn more at www.FirstChoicePower.com, on Twitter @firstchoicepwr, facebook.com/FirstChoicePower or www.FirstChoicePower.com/blog.
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