When American Insurance organized the new “Hometown Business Food Drive” in November 2017, we could not have foreseen these results. The response was overwhelming and the results are spectacular. 

“Our goal was to exceed (the 2016) donations of 706 lbs. and collect at least 1,000 lbs. this year,” said John Sullivan, President of American Insurance. “All the hometown businesses we asked gave us an enthusiastic ‘yes’ and then they were extremely generous in their giving.”

SHOCKING RESULTS: American Insurance delivered the food donations to the Community Action Food Bank.  The donations filled two pallets which were moved by forklift and weighed.  The final result was shocking at 1,825 lbs. 

MATCHING GIFT:  American Insurance had agreed to donate $1 per pound of food donations collected up to a maximum total of $1,000.  John Sullivan delivered the full check of $1,000 to Connie Granbois (shown third from left), Community Action Partnership Food Bank Manager, and AJ Farley.

Connie said, "I want to give a big thank you to all the businesses  and individuals who donated to the American Insurance Food Drive.  Community Action Food Bank directly serves an average of 125 families daily that come through our front door for food assistance.  We could not do it without your help.  It is greatly appreciated!

"Good job and thank you to John and Stephanie (Herbert)  and all the staff at American Insurance to make this successful food drive happen.”

Jenifer Womack, Community Engagement Specialist at the Moscow CAP office, thanked the Moscow and Lewiston offices of American Insurance for their support. 

“In the Moscow office, my food pantry is currently empty. This drive could not have come at a better time,” added Jenifer.

"We wanted to expand our efforts and turn it from a single office food drive to a Hometown Business Food Drive. We had so many clients and customers, friends and neighbors, support these efforts," said John B. Sullivan, Agency President.

Thank you to our Hometown Business partners! (Check out the pictures below) 

To help promote the efforts of our friends and neighbors in this partnership, we posted 7 times on our Facebook page and then "boosted" them with a paid outreach campaign. We reached an average of more than 750 local residents with each separate post. We also published a followup advertisement in the Lewiston Tribune to thank these businesses, which published on Wednesday, Nov. 22 and Sunday, Nov. 26.

Here are our clients, neighbors and friends who helped support our second annual event:

Dan and Larry with Dan’s Helping Hands

Isaac Mendez at Ideal Fitness and friends

Jeff and Dr. Anne Simon of Simon Audiology & Tinnitus

Mike Larson and staff at Northwest Engraving Service

Deranleau's staff and owners

Mac, Justin, Steve, Bob and Donna at B&F Power Vac

Andrea Tallon and her staff at the Holiday Inn Express

Su Brown & Associates, PLLC

Kenaston Corporation

Keith and Cassandra Crossler with City North American Moving & Storage

Living Waters Lawn & Landscape

Dr. Mark Sheppard, DDS, and staff

Dr. Bret Christensen and staff with Christensen Orthodontics and staff

Larry & Peggy Ohman and staff at the Institute of Physical Therapy

Todd Huffaker at Welenco Stove Store

Paul with Sunrise Home Center

Audrey Steiner of Steiner Electronics 

Stillings & Embry Florists 

Mick McClure Honda

H & R Block (Lewiston) 

Higginsons Home Center & Sleep Shop

4 Frendz Meat Market 

Thanks, again, to everyone who donated!

Need more information or ready to sign up for this year's event?

Contact our Event Coordinator Stephanie Herbert at community [at] am-ins [dot] com or (208) 413-6242 or contact us online here.

Read more archives of our past food drives:

• 2021 -- 12,704 lbs supports 3 food banks with 4 grocer Partners
• 2020 -- 9,542 lbs. of food supporting 3 area food banks
• 2019 -- 5,304 lbs of Food Drive donations supporting 3 area food banks
• 2018 -- 2,655 lbs. of Food Drive donations!
• 2016 -- 708 lbs. collected in first Food Drive
• Related: Food drive need increasing as pandemic persists -- Supplementing the grocery needs of their families with food bank resources means the rent can get paid and they are secure in their housing. It becomes a choice between food and rent for the unemployed and under-employed.
• Related: The magical power of partnership giving -- I can’t do everything, but I can do something.