In The News
WIT app features Feeding America sites to promote freight donations
PLOVER, Wis. — The Women In Trucking Association (WIT) has begun a partnership with the nonprofit organization, Feeding America, to assist their efforts to fight hunger on a national level, WIT announced June 2.
The first step was in creating awareness for drivers and carriers to contact Feeding America if they have a load that has been rejected by the customer for some reason. The organization can then assess the practicality of accepting the load for its network of over 200 food banks in the United States.
To make the donation process easier, WIT has added a "Rejected Loads-Feeding America" button in its app. Anyone can download the app for Android or iOS by searching for "Women In Trucking Association." The app is free and drivers are encouraged to download it now for future reference.
The app will connect a driver to the nearest Feeding America food bank.
Feeding America accepts good, safe, surplus food that is still nutritious, but has been rejected for reasons unrelated to the edible use of the product. Although the organization focuses on food donations, they also accept items that can offset financial burdens for those they serve, such as bath and beauty products, paper goods, toys, and clothing.
While the food banks are pleased to accept the product at their locations, they are often willing and able to meet a driver at a truck stop or shipping dock if their warehouse is out of the way or if the donation is not a truckload.
The app was created for WIT in 2015 by uFollowit, a leading provider of mobile applications. Since then, it has been used to connect members through social media and to keep them informed of upcoming events, helpful career information, blogs, news and information about the annual Accelerate! Conference and Expo.
"WIT is proud to lead the effort to help stop hunger in America by helping drivers and carriers turn rejected freight into meals for hungry families. Those you help could be your neighbor, your friend, or even your own family members," stated a WIT news release.
WIT is a nonprofit association established to encourage the employment of women in the trucking industry, promote their accomplishments and minimize obstacles faced by women working in the trucking industry.
Membership is not limited to women, as 17 percent of its members are men who support the mission. Women In Trucking is supported by its members and the generosity of Gold Level Partners: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems, Daimler Trucks North America, BMO Transportation Finance, Great Dane, J.B. Hunt Transport, Ryder System, Inc., U.S. Xpress, and Walmart.
For more information, visit www.womenintrucking.org.
The Trucker staff can be reached to comment on this article at [email protected].