A much appreciated donation was received by United Food Operation from Local 2001 of the Communication Workers of America. The presentation of the check was made by Shannon Soblit, Executive Vice President, Local 2001
UFO Chairperson Elaine Harris said the $2000 donation will be quickly put to use providing needed nutrition to residents of Kanawha and Putnam counties in WV.
A big food donation day happened in early May, led by the National Association of Letter Carriers and the USPS. Stamp Out Hunger food drive brought in loads of donated food from across Kanawha and Putnam counties in West Virginia.
The donated foods then made their way to the United Food Operation distribution center in Institute, WV with the help of WV National Guard personnel. The foods at UFO were sorted and then picked up by the group’s 12 participating food pantries.
These contributions to Stamp Out Hunger mean so much to the twelve foot pantries that participate with United Food Operation. The donated food gives a big boost to helping the pantries meet their mission of feeding the hungry.
United Food Operation received a check for $1,000 from West Virginia State University. WVSU President Ericke Cage presented the donation to United Food Operation Board Member Joseph Davenport today.
The funds will go toward general support in providing food for needy families in Kanawha and Putnam counties of West Virginia.
United Food Operation sends a heartfelt thank you to President Cage and all those at WVSU who were involved in helping provide this support.
United Food Operation will again partner with Letter Carriers Branch 531 on their annual Food Drive. It takes place on Saturday, May 9th.
As they deliver the mail, USPS letter carriers will collect non-perishable food left at household mail boxes throughout Kanawha and Putnam counties. The donated foods will then be delivered to the Charleston Main Post Office dock area along Washington Street.
Volunteers are needed to help unload food on May 9 at the post office dock area between the hours of 3:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. There is also a need for two volunteers at the UFO warehouse in Institute starting at 3:30 p.m.
People wishing to volunteer should contact UFO to put their names on the volunteer list. Please email your name and contact info to Nancy Grist at ngrist@cwa-union.org, or call her at 304-342-2023 no later than Monday, May 4 , 2026.
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.
Click on this link to hear Matt Harris’s special UFO song performance at WQBE on YouTube.
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</script>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.
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.”
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
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 .
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.
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,