Beef jerky drive supports the troops

Lubbock shoppers and United supermarkets will team up Saturday to donate beef jerky to the troops.

The beef jerky drive is a cooperative effort between the supermarket chain and Frito-Lay. United?s Lubbock stores, including Amigos and Market Street, will host drop-off locations on Saturday. Stores in Littlefield, Levelland, Brownfield and Lamesa will offer drop-off locations today.

This is the second year the two companies have worked together on the drive, and the first that all area United stores will participate.

The drive collected about $40,000 of beef jerky last year, with Lubbock stores contributing about $23,000 in jerky, according to Eddie Owens, United Supermarkets director of communication.

?I think it goes without saying we should do everything within our power to support our troops,? Owens said. ?This is a very little thing we can do, both for our customers and our stores.?

Shoppers can donate at Frito-Lay tables inside the stores. United is dropping the price of Matador beef jerky from $5.99 to $3.99, and a provided $1 coupon drops the price to $2.99.

On Jan. 4, Frito-Lay collected beef jerky from United stores in Slaton, Plainview, Post and Dumas. Winston Stice, Slanton store operations manager, said the drive went well.

?It is for our troops; you have to support our troops,? Stice said. ?They?re risking their lives for us.?

At the same location, Drew Clark, district sales leader, agreed the drive was a success. Clark added that the level of support in small towns is amazing.

?It is wonderful to see how people are willing to give back to our soldiers,? Clark said. ?It feels great; I feel honored to be able to do this.?

?I think we need to take care of the country by taking care of the people who take care of us,? said Nancy Lopez, service manager for the Plainview United.

Lopez said her uncles served, and appreciated care packages from home.

?There are some things they can?t get over there,? she said, ?and they miss it.?

Trish Dellinger, assistant service manager in Post, said many customers decided to contribute after learning the drive supports the troops.

The beef, she said, is a touch of home.

?They?re over there risking their lives fighting for the things that come free to us,? Dellinger said. ?A little bit of moral support makes things better and a little easier on them.?

At the Dumas United, about every third customer donated to the drive, according to Wade McWilliams, Frito-Lay?s West Texas business manager.

After last year?s drive, McWilliams said the troops sent messages back, thanking the company.

?It is neat to see what you do reaches the troops,? McWilliams said. ?We couldn?t do this without the help of America Helps Support You ? Texas.?

Donated jerky will be transferred to the nonprofit organization to include in packages it sends to troops.

McWilliams served in the armed forces from 1996 to 2004 and is still in contact with active duty troops.

?It means a lot to them,? McWilliams said. ?It is so comforting to get something that resembles home.?

Even things most don?t think as important, he added. He said last year?s care packages also had bean dip.

?The bean dip was like gold to them,? he said.

To comment on this story:

christopher.hoff@lubbockonline.com ? 766-8707

leesha.faulkner@lubbockonline.com ? 766-8706

Donations from last weekend

United @ S. Washington St. (Amarillo) 450

United @ Amarillo Blvd West (Amarillo) 520

Amigo?s @ I-40 and Grand St. (Amarillo) 150

United @ Perryton 1220

Market Street @ S. Georgia (Amarillo) 722

United @ Amarillo Bvld East (Amarillo) 205

United @ Pampa 150

United @ 45th Ave and Bell St. 410

United @ Canyon 525

United @ River Rd. (Amarillo) 220

United @ Dalhart 475

United @ Dumas 190

Total of stores 5237

Source: http://lubbockonline.com/filed-online/2013-01-10/beef-jerky-drive-supports-troops

jennie garth peter facinelli marques colston golden state warriors free agents nfl 2012 milwaukee bucks bear grylls us news law school rankings