(Atlantic) The 2022 Scrooge Contestants raised a record amount for the Atlantic Food Pantry: $29,460 and 813 food items.
Eleanor Hoover, who passed away in 2019, organized the contest in 2002, just one year after the inaugural Lighted Parade. Her daughters, Jackie Sampson and Billie Hoover took the reins in 2019.
Dr. Matt Weresh with Cass Health was named Scrooge with 61,900 points ($12,380 and 37 food items). Dr. Weresh will serve as the Grand Marshall of the Lighted Parade on December 3rd at 6:00 p.m. in downtown Atlantic.
Joyce Wieser and Lori Blum of Brown’s Shoe Fit had 45,000 points ($9,000 and 331 food items). Jeff Gude with First Whitney Bank & Trust had 30,000 points ($6,070 and 198 food items). Dave Frederiksen with Hy-Vee had 10,298 points ($2,000 and 247 food items).
Ken Burkhart, with the Atlantic Food Pantry, provided information on the number of pantry clients and cash food expenses. The pantry went from serving 2,324 individuals in 2018, to 6,622 individuals in 2020, to 7,434 individuals so far in 2022. The Pantry Cash Food Expense in 2018 was $20,582 and in 2021 it was $91,620. Burkhart said the Scrooge contest is vital to making citizens aware of the need.
The previous record for the Scrooge Contest was in 2021; the three candidates raised $24,177 and 2,299 food items.
You can listen to comments from each of the 2022 Scrooge Candidates below:
