Published: October 03, 2008 11:35 am         

They're losing for good

Weight Watchers donating pound for pound

BROWNSBURG — — So far, they’ve lost — and collected — more than 200 pounds.

Local Weight Watchers groups have enrolled in the “Lose for Good” program, where for every pound of weight they lose, they donate a pound of food to a designated food bank.

Debbie Rickelman, a team leader of the Weight Watchers group in Brownsburg, said the food her team collects will go to food banks at Cornerstone Christian Church, Bartlett Chapel, and Westside Church of the Nazarene.

“It’s a brand new thing and I think (Weight Watchers) are going to find it very successful,,” Rickelman said. “I don’t think they knew how well it would go. What better time than right now, going into the holidays. A lot of the food banks said their supply was so down now.”

Rickelman, who recently celebrated her fifth year of keeping off the 125 pounds she has lost, said the program has really motivated the people in her group.

“They’ve been so receptive,” she said. “I know they’re doing it not only for themselves, but for somebody else. We’re just encouraging our members to focus on helping someone else. There is so much obesity in our country and so many people starving.”

While local groups are giving to food banks in Hendricks County, some of the groups in Indianapolis are donating to Gleaners food bank. Nationwide, Weight Watchers is donating the cost of one pound of food, up to a $1 million donation to the Action Against Hunger and Share Our Strength organizations. Action Against Hunger is an international humanitarian organization that works to save lives by eliminating hunger through prevention, detection, and treatment of malnutrition. Share Our Strength is a national organization working to make sure no child in America grows up hungry.

Allison Ingberman, public relations manager for the Northeast Weight Watchers division, said the donation program comes at a time when they’ve had reports of food shelters needing more donations.

“We’ve been hearing that need is up and supply is down,” Ingberman said. “We’ve gotten great responses hearing how much we’re able to help. It’s been really successful. Through members, we’ve been hearing how much they enjoy it, that we’re giving them the ability to help people they don’t necessarily know.”

Ingberman also said since the point of losing weight is ultimately to become healthy, food banks have been giving out a list of preferred foods to participating groups.

“People around the world, even if they can’t afford food, still deserve the right to eat healthy,” she said. “We’ve gotten lists from the food banks of what’s the right type of food, like tuna fish. It’s really about being healthy and people still being able to get the right type of food and nutrients that they need.”

And the opportunity to help their community is an added bonus to members of the Weight Watchers groups.

Theresa Cordes of Brownsburg said that while the program doesn’t necessarily motivate her to lose more weight than she would anyway, it does motivate her to bring food donations to Weight Watchers meetings.

“It’s a good thing to do,” Cordes said. “It’s a good thing that we lose weight and share with others. It has made it extremely convenient to donate and to know that it’s not just corporate doing it, but that the food is going to local places. It’s a good idea.”

The program runs through Oct. 18. For more information on the program or how to join Weight Watchers locally, call 1-800-651-6000.



charlee.beasor@flyergroup.com

     

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