Businesses get ready for ‘March Madness’ drive
Annual event benefits Food Pantry
HONEY BROOK » March Madness is about to strike for some businesses in the Honey Brook area. For many, the phrase “March Madness” might bring college basketball to mind.
For a group of businesses, volunteers and residents in Honey Brook, Chester County, however, the phrase means something completely different.
March Madness — March 16 through April 3 this year — is a friendly competition between businesses and nonprofits in Honey Brook to collect food and money donations for the Honey Brook Food Pantry.
Like the NCAA basketball tournament, the local donation drive is also a bracketed tournament. Each week, donations, such as food, toiletries and money will be weighed and calculated to determine which company advances in the winners or consolidation bracket.
The event was started in 2018, according to Donna Horvath, business manager at the Honey Brook Golf Club and food pantry board member. She was looking for an additional event to benefit the food pantry, and the idea of linking the event to the NCAA basketball tournament was born.
“We wanted to draw attention to the fact that there is a food pantry in Honey Brook and that we have a need. Getting employees involved in the event helps spread that much needed awareness,” she said.
Eight companies participated in that first event in 2018. Last year, the number of participants grew to 16, and resulted in 8,500 pounds of food and $2,500 collected, for a total of 11,000 pounds. So far this year, 20 businesses and nonprofits have signed on.
The 2018 result is not insignificant, according to Ken Ross, Honey Brook Food Pantry board chairman.
“On average we probably distribute about 10,000 pounds per distribution. So 11,000 pounds of food covers more than a full distribution for clients. It is significant,” he said.
Equally important Ross said, is the ongoing participation the event has generated.
“Some companies have found other ways to support the pantry — through donations, volunteers and cash. There is the onetime benefit of what people give during the three weeks. Equally important is the staying power of it,” he added.
The Honey Brook Food Pantry serves more than 750 residents each month, including special nourishment programs for 150
“Even if the donation is 10 pounds of food, that is 10 pounds more than we would have had if they didn’t participate.
— Dave Larson, R-V Industries Inc.
families. It also offers resources and information to help clients regain their independence.
“The area we serve has high percentages of both wealth and poverty in the same geography. This event has raised awareness about those that have a need in the community,” Ross said.
Dave Larson, of R-V Industries Inc., has been an integral part of the event since its inception. Not only does R-V Industries participate in the event and provide marketing support in terms of flyers and this year collection boxes, but Larson handles the brackets for the competition.
“March Madness takes over the sporting world at this time of year. When people talk about the basketball tournament and participate in office pools, we hope it will trigger the idea to donate to the food pantry,” he said.
A former high school basketball coach, Larson sets up the brackets for the drive and tracks the results, moving the participants forward through the competition, until the final “winners” are named at the end of the tournament.
It is an event geared for companies of all sizes, Larson said, adding that they don’t want smaller companies to feel they can’t compete against bigger organizations.
“Even if the donation is 10 pounds of food, that is 10 pounds more than we would have had if they didn’t participate,” he said.
Last year’s event featured two divisions — retail organizations and business to business organizations. Final brackets and the number of divisions for this year will depend on the final number of competitors. Companies can still sign up, but Larson is looking to finalize the list during the week before “tip off.”
Robert Hamm, of R-V Industries Inc. said the company is planning to shake up its internal effort a bit for this year’s competition.
“We’re going to do interdepartmental challenges this year to bolster internal competition — sales against engineering, for example — with incentives,” he said.
The winners of each division get a team photo and a plaque to display at their business. A trophy is on display at the food pantry.
“People are very giving and want to support the pantry. Here is a fun opportunity to participate — and people like competition,” Horvath added.
Companies that are interested in participating can find more information on the Honey Brook Food Pantry website. Those interested in finding out more about the work the food pantry does and how to make a donation can visit www.honeybrookfoodpantry.org/.
“The area we serve has high percentages of both wealth and poverty in the same geography. This event has raised awareness about those that have a need in the community.”
— Ken Ross, board chairman, Honey Brook Food Pantry