Teamster drivers at Transervice Logistics Salina recently “Teamed Up” with Teamster drivers of UPS Salina, giving gifts of both money and personal time to feed S.O.M.E. (So Others Might Eat). The Local 696 members raised more than $5,000, collectively, to help Project Salina purchase food to feed the hungry in North Central Kansas. 

But this Teamster brotherhood did not stop at collecting food for the needy. On June 13 and 14, Transervice Logistics and UPS Teamsters were called upon to volunteer their time and energy, once again. Blue shirts and brown shirts worked shoulder-to-shoulder, wrapping pallets of food, loading them on trailers, and delivering these pallets to both the Salina Food Bank and the Salina Salvation Army Community Center for distribution.

Project Salina, Inc. began in 1990, collecting food for distribution to those in crisis who could not afford to buy food. In its first year of operation, 23 separate community agencies and businesses rallied together, collecting 56,465 food items to be distributed to local community service agencies, providing food to needy families and children.

Since its inception in 1990, Project Salina has grown to include 125 community businesses, collecting more than 167,000 non-perishable food items annually. All donated food items are sorted and distributed to The Ashby House, Ltd; Focus on the Future, Ltd.; Salina Emergency Aid/Food Bank, Inc.; Salina Rescue Mission, Inc.; The Salvation Army; and The Salina Youth Care Home Foundation; which provide service to local children and families in need. The food drive is held in May of each year, enabling these agencies to provide much-needed assistance during times of greatest need–the summer months when school-aged children are without school lunch programs. 

In 2005, the six agencies served 145,000 meals to needy children and families in Salina, Kansas. Project Salina, Inc. relies entirely on volunteer management and support, with every dime and food item contributed going directly to feed the hungry. Transervice Salina has been an active participant of Project Salina since 2001.  

Transervice Logistics issued its first cross-town challenge to UPS in April 2006. Since then, the annual month-long food drive has been filled with friendly challenges and cross-town collaborations. Thanks to the community-minded drivers of Transervice Logistics and UPS Salina, six worthwhile charities will continue their mission of feeding needy families. But this community collaboration serves a second purpose. The camaraderie of competing, collecting food, and working together has formed a stronger brotherhood within Local 696.