UWLC wraps up its 2012 Feed Lake County campaign

United Way of Lake County wrapped up its 2012 Feed Lake County Campaign Thursday night with an awards reception.

The ceremony took place at the organization's Mentor office, 9285 Progress Parkway and recognition was given to businesses, organizations and individuals who went above and beyond during the annual food drive.

The Feed Lake County Campaign began on March 2 and raised more than 45,100 pounds of food and $62,000 in cash donations. The cash donations will be used to purchase more food throughout the year.

The Feed Lake County Campaign showcased many highlights including a food construction competition out of canned goods between Avery Dennison, Winter Equipment and Marous Brothers Construction at the Great Lakes Mall.

Other highlights from the Feed Lake County Campaign included:

*    Distributing 712 hams to food pantries the week before Easter.
*    Distributing 45,188 pounds of food to 53 food pantries on April 24, with the help from volunteers from Winter Equipment.
*    Mentor High School donating more than 10,311 pounds of food, which was the highest food drive during the campaign.
*    First Energy Perry Nuclear Facility donated $20,588 which was the largest cash donation during the campaign
*    In total, there were more than 60 food drives conducted during the campaign.

In addition to the highlights, the following businesses, organizations and individuals received the below awards:

Outstanding Social Service Agency: YMCA Central
Outstanding Company Award: Workplace Media
Outstanding Continuing Effort: Parker Hannifin
Outstanding Service Club Award: Willoughby Rotary
Outstanding Government Agency: Willoughby Municipal Court
Outstanding High School: Mentor High School
Outstanding Middle School: Ridge Middle School
Outstanding Elementary School: Dale R. Rice Elementary
Outstanding Special Event: Great Lakes Mall, Avery Dennison, Marous Brothers, Winter Equipment, MC Sign, Meister Media.
Outstanding Gift-in-Kind Awards: Great Lakes Mall, Polychem, Office Max, Salvation Army Citadel
Outstanding Volunteers: Willoughby Explorers, Mentor High School Football Team, MC Sign, DeNora Tech, Winter Equipment, Interlake Stamping, Plumbers Local 55, Harvey High School, Holden Arboretum, Lake County Council on Aging, Faith Tomsick, Avery Dennison, Erika Thiedemann, Trent Dlugos, Teen Challenge, Lake House.
1,000 Club Award: City of Mentor Firefighters, Meister Media, Orchard Hollow Elementary, Avery Dennison, Marous Brothers, Winter Equipment, MC Sign, Workplace Media.
Above & Beyond Award: MC Sign
Bob Sauer Award: First Energy Corporation
Clem Urbanski Award: Winter Equipment