By: Janice Limbaugh

The owner of Eastbrook Auto Wash and Eastbrook Oil and Lube, Paul Coffman is dedicated to this community; most especially to those families in West Michigan who are going hungry.

“Everyone should be able to have food on the table not just during the holidays, but all days of the year,” Coffman says.

As a result, Eastbrook Auto Wash and Eastbrook Oil & Lube are holding a month-long food drive and fundraising event for Feeding America West Michigan Food Bank. Now through November 30, these businesses will be collecting canned, boxed and bagged food staples, toiletry staples, pet food supplies and monetary donations to help offset the fight against hunger in West Michigan. And yes, there is hunger in West Michigan.

Each year it is estimated that over 492,000 people receive food from Feeding America West Michigan. Since 1981 this charity has served families in 40 counties by distributing 1,100 hunger-relief agencies.

“To be able to support this charity during a time when having food on the table has such a strong advertising message, yet others have nothing for their table, is not lost on us,” says Coffman.

To support the cause, Coffman decided that customers who make monetary or supply donations to Feeding America West Michigan during business hours (Monday – Friday 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.) will receive discounted car washes and oil changes. Every dollar donated to Feeding America West Michigan will be multiplied by the food bank by 10, turning the donation into four meals for someone in need.

The most needed items for the food drive include: jars of peanut butter, canned beef stew, tuna, chicken, fish and meat, macaroni and cheese, rice, pasta, canned vegetables and fruits, beans of all kinds and toiletries.

For more information about the event, contact Jana Schrier at eastbrookautowash@gmail.com or visit www.eastbrookautowash.com.