Local Women's Gym Collects Food for the Needy

As many are preparing for Easter, the women at one area gym are stepping up with a food drive in an effort to collect 750 pounds of food for a local pantry.

Curves of Parkville, 2160 E. Joppa Road, is participating in a company-wide effort to collect food for needy families—nationally, the five Curves franchises that collect the most food for local pantries during the month of April are set to have their donation matched by the corporate office.

Donations made to Curves will benefit the Victor's Vittles food pantry at Christus Victor Lutheran Church in Carney. 

A few months ago, Patch wrote about the program, which serves 40-50 needy families who live in Parkville-Carney each week. At the time, food pantry Director Charlie Leight told Patch that Victor's Vittles had about 800 families in their system.

Mariela Mendoza is the owner and manager of the Parkville-Carney Curves location.

"I think we need some help right now," Mendoza said. "Donations are really low."

This is Curves third year participating in the company-wide food drive initiative while working with Victor's Vittles. Last year the 175-member gym managed to collect about 670 lbs. of food through their April food drive. 

The event was so successful that they decided to take the initiative and put on another food drive during November 2010.

"Maybe it's the economy—that affects us and everybody else," Mendoza said.  As of April 11, the Parkville-Carney Curves had collected only about 62 pounds of food. 

"Just one can, or one item helps. We'll take anything, and anyone can help," she said.

Mendoza noted that although the gym is exclusively for women, anyone from the community is welcome to participate in the food drive.

"If anybody wants to help Victor's Vittles, they're welcome to," she said. The drive ends April 30.