The Arnold Parks and Recreation Department is back on top of the Missouri Park and Recreation Association’s Feed the Masses food-collection competition.
The department joined 26 other St. Louis-area parks and rec departments in the annual competition to see which city would collect the most food donations throughout November for area food charities. The competition was first held in 2020.
Arnold collected 9,319 nonperishable food items, which were donated to the Gateway Food Pantry, 2024 Key West Drive.
Dave Crutchley, Arnold Parks and Recreation Department director, said the city beat out Maryland Heights, which collected 6,624 food items, for the top stop. He said a total of 47,860 food items were collected during the Feed the Masses campaign.
“We are happy that we were able to give back to our community and the people who need it the most,” Crutchley said. “It is nice to have the win, and it is nice to help people out, too. It is a win-win all around.”
Arnold collected the most food items in each of the first four years of the Feed the Masses campaign.
However, it lost the top spot last year, coming in third with 2,489 collected food items. Maryland Heights came in first that year with 4,595 items, and Bridgeton was second with 2,958 items.
Arnold parks and rec department held raffles each week in November with people entering the drawing by donating five or more items. The city also collected a large portion of its donations when participants came to the rec center to pick up their packets for the annual Turkey Trot, which is held at Arnold City Park every Thanksgiving Day.
“It surprises me every year,” Crutchley said about the amount of donations that are received during Feed the Masses. “Arnold has always been so giving when we have reached out for help. It is always awesome and makes you proud.”