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Last modified: Thursday, October 29, 2009 3:04 PM CDT
Residents losing for a winning cause
by Erin C. Hevern • Daily News
Over the last seven weeks, area weight watching residents joined a national fight against two global epidemics — hunger and obesity.
Members of the local Weight Watchers group joined the second annual Lose For Good campaign Aug. 31 and since that time have lost a total of 334 pounds. As they rose to the challenge of losing weight, members also collected 340 pounds of food to donate to the Richland-Wilkin Food Pantry.
"Our losses were their gains and we're really happy with the turnout," said Lou Schumacher, area campaign manager.
Members of the Weight Watchers located in Wahpeton joined more than 3,000 other voluntary food drives throughout the country, combined, contributing an estimated 2 million pounds of food and losing approximately 4 million pounds.
"And there's more coming in, that's not even the total," Schumacher said.
Adding to the members' generosity, Weight Watchers pledged to donate $250,000 to two hunger fighting organizations — Share Our Strength and Action Against Hunger.
At a celebration ceremony in Fargo Oct. 17, Wahpeton's Weight Watchers was named "Traveler's Best" for the campaign.
Schumacher said Wahpeton's location is a traveler's location, as the space they meet in twice per week is rented.
"We did the best at that and she had only seen half of what [our members] brought," Schumacher said.
Members donated a number of healthy items, including cereals, granola bars and grain-based pasta, but also gave fun snacks, such as graham crackers, chocolate and marshmallows, so families could make S'mores.
One married couple, Schumacher said, lost 75 pounds combined, therefore, donating 75 pounds of food.
"For them to do that, the generosity has just been phenomenal. All the members did a great job," Schumacher said.
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