It’s that time of year again: local State Farm agent Kelley Tierney is rallying the Buckhannon community to fill shelves — and soup bowls — for local students in need.
Now in its eighth year, Tierney’s annual soup drive kicked off Oct. 1 and will continue through the end of the month, once again benefiting the weekend food backpack and break bag programs that serve Upshur County children.
“Our goal this year is 8,000 total cans of soup for Upshur County Schools students who rely on the backpack program and break bags,” Tierney said. “We will match all donations, can-for-can, dropped off at our office during October.”
The annual effort collects canned soup and other easy-to-prepare foods that help feed children who might otherwise go hungry when school cafeterias are closed for the weekend or over breaks.
Donations can be dropped off throughout October at Kelley Tierney State Farm, located at 115 East Main Street in Buckhannon, which serves as the primary collection site.
All types of canned soup are appreciated, but Tierney noted that easy-open, ready-to-eat varieties are especially useful since not every child has access to a can opener or microwave at home.
Tax-deductible monetary donations are also welcome. Make checks payable to Foundation for Better Schools and mail to 115 E. Main Street, Buckhannon, WV 26201. Or donate online using the Foundation’s PayPal account by clicking here (note Soup Drive in the memo), and they will do the soup shopping for you. You can also click the link on their Facebook page.
The soup drive began nearly a decade ago with a simple question from a teacher at Buckhannon-Upshur Middle School: What would students do for meals during Thanksgiving break?
“When we started eight years ago, it was just for one school,” Tierney recalled. “A teacher was worried about the kids — what they were going to do during the holiday — and we decided to see what we could do to help.”
That first year’s goal was 1,000 cans. By year three, the project had expanded to include all Upshur County schools. Since then, the effort has provided more than 35,000 cans to local children.
Last year, the drive collected 8,760 cans of food, which were taken to the Upshur County Parish House with the help of Wesleyan student volunteers.
“Just a couple of cans makes a difference; it really does,” Tierney said. “Two cans become four cans. Four cans become eight cans.”
Community involvement continues to be the heart of the campaign, with local youth groups, civic clubs and organizations pitching in year after year. Collected soup is distributed through a partnership with local schools and the Upshur County Parish House, which stores the food until it’s needed.
Donations will be accepted through Oct. 31. To learn more or contribute, contact Kelley Tierney State Farm at 304-472-5552. 
