Local business hosts food drive to help NHS students

With the start of the new school year, owners of Clemon-Maki Insurance are once again working to battle hunger by hosting a month-long food drive — Operation Fill the Food Pantry — to benefit the Newton High School Food Pantry.

To help keep the pantry shelves full, Darin Eide, Jeff Maki and Alex Modlin are working to collect 1,500 pounds of food by Sept. 30. In addition to hosting the drive, the men have pledged up to $1,500 in matching donations.

“It was concerning to learn there are high school students in our community that rely solely on school lunch to fill their daily nutritional needs,” Eide said. “We are proud of our community and want to see Newton and its residents succeed. We feel as local business owners it is our obligation to the community to give back as much as possible.”

Giving back is just what Clemon-Maki Insurance is doing. Not only is the business hosting the food drive, they were integral in establishing the food pantry in January 2018. Since it has opened, the food pantry serves students daily when school is in session. Abby Lamont, who works at the NHS Career Center and oversees the food pantry, said the food assistance is vital to student success.

“Filling the food pantry will give some students the certainty of knowing they have a next meal, the stability to eat three meals a day and reassurance that we are here to help,” Lamont said. “The food pantry would not exist without the incredible generosity of Clemon-Maki Insurance.”

To sweeten the deal, all three men have agreed to take a pie in the face as an extra incentive to getting donations. At benchmarks of 500, 1,000 and 1,500 pounds of food or dollars being donated, Modlin, Maki or Eide will take a cream pie in the face. If the goal is met all three men will be hit with a pie and break out their wallets to make a $1,500 matching gift from Clemon-Maki Insurance.

“I feel it’s something we can do to give back to the community that we are proud to call home,” Maki said. “We believe as a business in the community, helping the students of our great high school is just one way we can give back.”

To support the food drive, donations can be dropped off at the insurance agency, 220 First Ave. W. Food items being accepted include Dinty Moore microwavable meals, canned soups, Ramen noodles, peanut butter and jelly, Easy Mac, Spaghetti O’s, individually wrapped snack crackers, granola bars, Pop Tarts and small boxes of cereal. Monetary donations can be made in gift cards to Hy-Vee or Fareway, or in cash. All funds and food will be donated Oct. 1.

“We are honored to be able to give back to the school we attended and be able to impact the lives of the kids who now attend Newton High School,” Modlin said. “The food drive also helps us raise awareness on a real issue. It also gives us a chance to say thanks to everyone who is involved in the school system who dedicates their time and effort to impact the ones around them.”

Lamont said she is grateful for the support of Clemon-Maki Insurance and their willingness to support the schools and meet such a vital need in the community.

“The intangible gifts that (Alex, Jeff and Darin) have given these students is immeasurable,” she said. “We are so grateful for their selfless giving and encouragement to our students.”