By Shavonne Potts
spotts@salisburypost.com
Losing weight is hard, but when you know losing means someone else can eat, that makes it easier.
That’s what a group from Weight Watchers in Salisbury did. The women participated in the national Lose For Good campaign.
For the pounds the women lost, they made a donation to the Rowan County Department of Social Services Food Pantry.
The DSS food pantry serves families who are enrolling in the Food and Nutrition Services program, formerly known as Food Stamps. Before a family is approved, there is a wait of a couple of days. The pantry helps get the families through that period.
“There is a tremendous inequality between hunger and obesity,” said Kelley Williams, who works at DSS and part time at Weight Watchers.
This is the second year the local Weight Watchers has made donations. Nationwide, Weight Watchers centers are making similar donations and contributing to local food drives.
“The DSS pantry is stocked by the workers. This is reaching out into the community,” Williams said.
Williams sees firsthand how the impact of families getting this food.
She recalled a family enrolling in the food assistance program who were able to get some items from the food pantry. The young child clapped when he saw the food and said, “We get to eat,” Williams said.
So far during the six-week campaign, the members of the local Weight Watchers have lost a total of 958.6 pounds. The campaign began Aug. 30 and ended Oct. 17.
Weight Watchers will donate up to $1 million to help feed children and families through its partners, Share Our Strength and Action Against Hunger.
Actress Jenny McCarthy, who lost weight on the Weight Watchers plan, is the spokeswoman for the Lose For Good program.
Next week, DSS plans another way to help bring more food to the pantry.
The agency will hold a sale that exchanges baked goods for canned goods. The baked-goods sale is Oct. 30 at the DSS building in conference room 1236.
Organizers ask for two canned or boxed items in exchange for a baked treat, or donate five canned or boxed items and get a baked treat and candy. Visitors can also guess how many candies are in a jar for $1.
For more information about how to help stock the DSS food pantry, contact the department at 704-216-8330.