A spokeswoman for the United Way Horry County said they haven't weighed the food that's been donated by the community, but the collections bins housed at Wal-Mart were so full they needed to be replaced with empty bins.
"We don't have a total yet. We're getting a weigh in tomorrow. We have to get a driver from Wal-Mart and have transport police come in and weigh it tomorrow," said Julie Kopnicky, marketing and communications coordinator for the United Way of Horry County. "The bins at Wal-Mart have been filled and they have replaced them and loaded the full palettes onto the Wal-Mart trucks."
Kopnicky said the United Way's goal is to collect 100 tons of food, and if the community support continues, the group should meet their goal.
"I think if everybody in the community gets involved we'll be able to do it. We have over 80 businesses that are accepting food at their businesses. Wal-Mart is the main drop off point so I haven't seen bins at the individual businesses, but I saw the bin at the Chamber and that was over half full," she said. "There are so many businesses listed on the web-site and so many places that are easily accessible and willing to take walk-in donations, from Horry County Schools to bowling alleys and law offices... everyone has been helping."
Kopnicky said the United Way will weigh the food Wednesday and again on Friday, with help and time donated by Wal-Mart. She said she hopes to do one last weigh-in on Monday to announce to the community the final total of food collected.
"It's a great way for people in the community who couldn't volunteer to help at the house build to get involved and to help how they can," she said.
