Spectrum Brands heads competition

Spectrum Brands, with offices in Bentonville, headed a competition with eight other corporations in Northwest Arkansas to raise more than 17,000 pounds of food for the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank.

In addition to Spectrum Brands, the other participants in the competition were Johnson Controls, Castrol Oil, Signature Bank, Global Brands, Coca Cola, Smuckers, Shell Oil and Clorox.

“As a group of employees, we wanted to give back to the community,” said Kenneth Medlin, sales and project coordinator for Spectrum Brands. The corporations donated food that could be used for meals as well as for snack pack programs.

The food drive took place from Nov. 14 to Dec. 17, and the food has been picked up by the Food Bank.

The companies are already looking forward to next year and other companies are looking to join in the competition, Medlin said. The goal for next year is to grow the competition to 20 companies.

The Northwest Arkansas Food Bank, located at 1378 June Self Drive, Bethel Heights, serves more than 150 food pantries and agencies in a four-county area – Benton, Carroll, Madison and Washington.