News Report, Program Updates

UFO kicks off 2026 campaign

On January 17 the United Food Operation, Inc. (U.F.O.) began its 45th annual campaign to help alleviate hunger in the Kanawha Valley.

Program and community leaders gathered at the U.F.O. headquarters in Institute, WV, to seek support and to celebrate its many years of work bringing food to those in need through a network of 12 food pantries across Kanawha and Putnam counties.

This year’s food distribution season began Jan. 17 and runs through mid-April.

Presented below are photos from the event. In the first gallery are pictures of speakers and audience at the kickoff event. The second gallery are photos of Nitro High School ROTC students who cleaned up the UFO warehouse prior to the annual program kickoff. The students were provided lunch compliments of Covestro.

Click on any photo to enlarge it.

2026 Kickoff Day

Warehouse Clean Up

All clean & ready to go
Thank you Nitro High School ROTC

And a song for UFO 2026

Matt Harris displays his musical talent at the kickoff

Click on this link to hear Matt Harris’s special UFO song performance at WQBE on YouTube.

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News Report, Program Updates

Dates set for 2026 UFO food drive and distribution

The dates are set for the winter 2026 United Food Operation (UFO) food drive and distributions, reports Elaine Harris, UFO Chairperson.

“We are excited to be opening our warehouse for the program kick off on January 16, 2026, at 11:00 A.M.” said Harris.

The 2026 UFO Food Drive will begin January 16 and conclude on April 4, 2026. She also noted that UFO will again participate in the National Letter Carriers Food Drive, happening on May 9. More information will follow.

UFO will be marking its 45th year of purchasing and collecting donated food and distributing it through a network of participating Food Pantries in Kanawha and Putnam counties. UFO’s distribution center warehouse is located in the Altivia Institute Industrial Park.

Those wishing to set up food collection barrels at their workplaces this winter or anyone interested in volunteering for a two-hour work shift at the warehouse on distribution Thursday-Fridays should contact UFO by phone at 304-342-2023 or email at eharris@cwa-union.org

United Food Operation is joint effort of labor unions and employers in the Kanawha Valley working to fight food insecurity.

News Report, Program Updates

Green’s Fall Food Drive Kicks Off

With a federal funding crisis looming, and SNAP benefits ailing, United Food Operation (UFO) has jumped in to help a project of Green’s Feed & Seed and their affiliated businesses.

From November 4 thru December 1, 2025, the Green’s businesses will set up food collection areas in their stores with baskets to collect donated non-perishable foods. United Food Operation will then distribute the donated food to our network food pantries across Kanawha and Putnam counties.

The food will be provided to the pantries at no cost, and the pantries will then distribute the food freely to those in need.

“As many of you are aware, all of the food pantries are struggling to keep up with the demand,” says UFO Chair Elaine Harris. “Many run out of food regularly and must turn people away. 

“Therefore, I am asking everyone to promote this food drive in any way possible, through your work, church, civic organization, neighbors, family and friends.  It is a wonderful opportunity for all of our food pantries. Let’s all make this a great success.”

Donations accepted at all Green’s locations

Green’s store locations include: Greens Feed and Seed in Charleston and Big Chimney; Spring Hill Rod and Gun in Spring Hill; and Greens Building Products on MacCorkle Avenue SE, Kanawha City.

People can drop-off donations of canned goods and other non-perishable foods during Green’s business hours as listed below.

Green’s Feed and Seed
314 Piedmont Road, Charleston
Sunday: 10 AM- 2 PM
Mon-Sat: 7 AM- 6 PM

Green’s Feed and Seed (Big Chimney)
4509 Pennsylvania Av.
Sunday: 10 AM- 4:30 PM
Mon-Fri: 8 AM- 6:30 PM
Saturday: 8 AM- 4 PM

Green’s Building Products
7500 MacCorkle Av., Charleston
Saturday & Sunday: Closed
Mon-Fri: 7:30 AM- 4 PM

Spring Hill Rod and Gun
4961 MacCorkle Av., South Charleston
Sunday & Monday: Closed
Tue-Fri: 10 AM- 6 PM
Saturday: 9 AM- 2 PM

News Report

Letter Carriers Food Drive , Sat. May 10

Don’t forget to fill a bag/box with food on Saturday morning, May 10, and place it out by your mailbox. Put only canned, boxed, or packaged non-perishable foods in the bag.

Your USPS Letter Carrier will pick up the food and deliver it to the food collection area at the main Charleston, WV, post office. From there, it will be shipped to the United Food Operation (UFO) center in Institute, WV, where it is sorted and organized for pick-up by participating food pantries from across Kanawha County.

UFO is again participating with the National Association of Letter Carriers for their national Stamp Out Hunger food drive. To learn more about the food drive, check out these pages on the NALC website or Facebook .

Stamp out hunger
NALC

Program Updates

Winter 2025 Food Drive Set

The 2025 United Food Operation (UFO) annual food drive will begin on January 17, 2025, at 10:30 A.M., with a kick off event at the program warehouse in Altivia Industrial Park at Institute. The public is invited to attend.

The 2025 food drive will run until April 5, 2025, or until funds run
out. UFO will be marking its 44th year of collecting
and distributing food to its participating food pantries.

Food distributions to the 12 participating food pantries take place each Saturday morning during the food drive. Foods are provided to the pantries free of charge. The food pantries operate in Kanawha and Putnam counties.

Also, please mark your calendar for the National Letter Carriers Food Drive May.

News Report

CWA commits to continued service

United Food Operation (UFO) is pleased to announce the continued commitment of Communication Workers of America Local 2001 toward fighting food insecurity in Kanawha and Putnam counties of West Virginia.

UFO Chairperson Elaine Harris recently accepted a $1,000 check from CWA union officers and executive board members in Charleston earlier this month. CWA has been one of the longest-term supporters of the UFO program.

“This type of support from workers in the Charleston region is critical to our success in providing much-needed food and nutrition to less-fortunate families in our area,” Harris said,

News Report, Program Updates

Letter carriers, volunteers produce results

Donated food poured into the main Charleston Post Office on Saturday, May 11, as letter carriers and volunteers unloaded the mail delivery vehicles.

United Food Operation (UFO) leader, Elaine Harris, was thankful for the generosity of Charleston area residents.

“The community always steps up to the plate each year for the Stamp Out Hunger food drive,” she said. “And our letter carriers, these men and women work so hard on this effort every year. We truly appreciate their work to collect all this donated food from across the region.”

Harris recognized the hard work of members of the National Association of Letter Carriers Branch 531. She noted that many of the letter carriers stayed after their shifts ended, helping pack up the food so it could be trucked over to the United Food Operation warehouse for sorting.

“The donated food collected will help provide needed nutrition to many families around Kanawha and Putnam counties. It’s always a pleasure working with the letter carrier food drive leaders, RD Henson and Troy Lahue, on this annual program.”

Beyond NALC members, volunteers from around the areaalso came out to help process the donated foods.

Some of the volunteers included Kanawha County Judges Jennifer Bailey and Lera VanMeter, along with Curt Zickefoose, Lora Walker. and Circuit Court judge candidate Rich Lindsay,

Harris says another group that turns out year after year to help unload food are Charleston Firefighters from IAFF Local 317. They were back in force this year.

As they have for many years, members of the West Virginia Army National Guard used their trucks to help bring in food from remote postal centers and they also delivered the food from the main post office over to the UFO warehouse.

UFO-affiliated food pantry representatives also came out to help. They included Jodie Breitkreutz from Covenant House Charleston and Ted Dues with Enact. Also helping out was Larry Stanley, retired NALC.

UFO board members were out working too. Kay Moffatt helped out at the post office, while Joe Gresham was stationed at the Institute warehouse to receive the trucks delivering food there.

In coming days, the foods will be sorted and then shipped out to the ten UFO-affiliated local food pantries.

News Report, Program Updates

American Income Life contribution fights food insecurity

All of us at United Food Operation were so pleased to recently receive a generous contribution from American Income Life. This donation will be used to purchase food, which will help supply a dozen food pantries in Kanawha and Putnam counties of West Virginia.

The check was presented to UFO by Celia “CC” Odell, Public Relations Specialist at American Income Life. Elaine Harris, UFO chair person, received the donation and thanked American Income Life for their help.

“When we receive these contributions from businesses in our area, we can never thank them enough for their kindness,” Harris said. “These funds will be put to use providing food and much-needed nutrition to families in the two counties we serve.”

Program Updates

Laborers dig deep to fight hunger

The Construction & General Laborers Local 1353 recently presented a check to United Food Operation. Accepting the contribution was UFO’s chairperson Elaine Harris. The presentation took place at the WV State Capitol during the recent Legislative Session. 

Harris called the check “a very generous contribution” and offered a special thank-you to Local 1353 members for the donation, which will be used to purchase food for UFO-affiliated food pantries in Kanawha and Putnam Counties.

Pictured above are members of the Laborers Local 1353 with UFO chair Harris.

Program Updates

Spring food drive continues

There’s still time to get your business or workplace involved in collecting food for families in our local communities who face food insecurity. Your workplace can make a big difference by conducting a food drive or making a monetary donation.

Contact United Food Operation for help setting up your food collection or fundraising program. It’s not hard to do and it will make a difference in our local community.

AVN Corp. food drive produces results

AVN Corp’s South Charleston site proudly sponsored a food drive in February to support the United Food Operation. AVN Employees contributed numerous containers of non-perishable food items that UFO will distribute to multiple food pantries across Kanawha and Putnam counties in West Virginia. This collaboration underscores AVN’s commitment to local communities in which many of our employees reside.

UFO is an all-volunteer, charitable organization which has been making food distributions since its founding in 1981. UFO operates out of donated warehouse space in the Altivia Industrial Park in Institute, WV. To learn more, visit unitedfoodoperation.org.

Making food distributions in Kanawha and Putnam counties of West Virginia since its founding in June 1981.