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CKCA takes FIRST in annual Cram the Van competition

Central Kansas Christian Academy won First place in the annual Cram the Van competition with CKCA’s total poundage of 880 pounds or 12.94 lbs. per student. Cram the Van Great Bend Schools Competition, sponsored by Gifting Forward, offers cash awards to the top four schools.

Central Kansas Christian Academy won first place in Wheatland’s Cram the Van School Competition. The school raised 12.94 pounds of food per student and won a $600 cash prize from Gifting Forward. Pictured are Central Kansas Christian Academy students and staff along with Dena Hiss, Gifting Forward and Mary Hoisington member services and key accounts manager at Wheatland.

The Great Bend School Competition, sponsored by Gifting Forward, partnered with Wheatland Electric’s annual Cram the Van food drive to collect nearly four tons of food to benefit the Community Food Bank of Barton County. Students from twelve area schools participated in a friendly food drive competition, collecting 7,501 pounds during October 2023.


Gifting Forward has again generously sponsored $1,500 in cash prizes for this year’s competition by awarding prizes to the top four schools with the highest pounds of food donated per student. All donations were delivered straight to the Community Food Bank of Barton County in Great Bend, just in time for the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday seasons.


This year’s collection brings the combined nine-year collection total in Great Bend to 82,631 pounds. That’s over 41 tons of cash and non-perishable food items donated since the Cram the Van’s inception in 2014 ($1 donation equals one pound of food).


“This event not only gives our area students the opportunity to help those less fortunate than themselves, but also helps them to better understand how a small act of kindness on their part can make a huge difference in the lives of others,” said Mary Hoisington, member services and key accounts manager for Wheatland Electric. “All of this is made possible through the financial generosity and support of Gifting Forward.”




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