Thanks to the combined efforts of Wheatland Electric Cooperative Inc. members, businesses and community partners, the 2025 Power the Pantry campaign has raised $130,203 in cash and food donations for a dozen local food banks.
Over the past 11 years, WEC has facilitated the collection of more than 279 tons of food donations — an astounding 558,183 pounds ($1 = 1 lb.).
Since 2014, WEC has rallied communities across southwest and central Kansas each fall to support local food banks through Power the Pantry (formerly Cram the Van). For nearly a decade, the campaign featured community gatherings, school competitions and in-person collection events featuring a large, red extended-passenger van used to collect food donations.
Beginning in 2023, with the support of their board of trustees, the initiative evolved to better meet the needs of food pantries by shifting toward cash-focused support and establishing a pledge of $50,000 annually from the cooperative.
In 2025, for the third year in a row, WEC worked to double the impact of that pledge by aiming to raise $100,000 for the many food pantries that serve as a vital safety net across their service territory – an ambitious goal communities not only met but exceeded for the second year in a row.
Through a months-long online fundraising campaign featuring a Sunflower Showdown (KU vs. K-State) ticket drawing, monetary donations from co-op members across seven districts, employee and trustee donations, a spirited school competition in Great Bend, a collaborative student-driven food drive in Conway Springs and the seventh annual Co-ops Care Charity Golf Tournament, $130,203 total ($1=1 pound) was achieved in this record-setting campaign.
As both the campaign and community support have grown over the years, the focus has continued to shift toward cash donations, which offer the greatest impact. Monetary contributions reduce waste, eliminate storage burdens and give food pantries flexibility to purchase perishable items – such as meat and cheese – or provide grocery vouchers directly to families, according to food pantry directors.
In addition to these cash contributions, food items collected through the Great Bend schools competition, sponsored by Gifting Forward (10,944 pounds) and the Cardinals Care Challenge in Conway Springs (2,063 items of food) were delivered to local food banks in November. Tyson Fresh Meats, generously donated $32,742 worth of honey turkey deli meat, providing high-quality, protein-rich options for families ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday.
“This year’s results show what’s possible when communities come together with a shared purpose,” said Alli Conine, director of member services and corporate communications at Wheatland Electric. “Exceeding our goal means local food banks will have the resources they need to better serve families, and we’re honored to be a part of that impact. As we continue to uphold the Seventh Cooperative Principle – Concern For Community – we are inspired by the compassion and dedication demonstrated by our co-op members, trustees, employees and community partners.”
The following donations were delivered to the following food banks this year:
• Argonia – Argonia Food Bank ($515)
• Caldwell – Caldwell Food Bank ($5,225)
• Conway Springs – Conway Springs Mission Mart (Cardinals Care partnership $5,664 plus 1,517 food items)
• Finney County – Emmaus House ($6,095) and Genesis Family Health ($5,635)
• Great Bend – Community Food Bank of Barton County ($17,332), plus 10,944 lbs. of food
• Harper – Harper Mission Mart ($5,675)
• Holcomb – First Baptist Church of Holcomb ($4,255)
• Leoti – Wichita County Ministerial Alliance ($7,055)
• Scott City – Hope’s Closet/Ministerial Alliance ($14,700)
• Syracuse – Hamilton County Food Pantry ($7,135)
• Tribune – Greeley County Food Bank ($8,515)
