Program encourages weight loss and charitable giving

Lu Rolfes, the head of the local Weight Watchers group, is leading their effort in the national program Lose For Good by donating 66 pounds of food to the Christian Needs Center -- equal to the 66 pounds she lost in Weight Watchers. The Lose For Good program combines local outreach with national giving. [Click to enlarge]

Now she's giving that much away in food.

Rolfes, who directs the local chapter of Weight Watchers, said her group is participating in Lose For Good, a project that combines losing weight with giving to people in need.

Rolfes is encouraging her group to donate food to the Christian Needs Center in Le Mars, but here's the twist: she's asking them to give as much pounds of food as they've lost in weight.

"It gives them a chance to see how significant their weight loss is -- and how it can truly translate into dozens of meals for our neighbors in need," Rolfes said.

The Lose For Good program started Aug. 30 and runs until Oct. 17.

Since it started, Le Mars members have lost 195.4 pounds and donated 91 pounds of food, Rolfes said.

The campaign, she said, is a good eye-opener.

"We talk about other countries, but I think here in America there are a lot of people who are hungry," Rolfes said.

At the Christian Needs Center, director Jessica Larson is thankful for the group's help.

"Last year we were unable to give out boxes of food," she said. "Our goal is to give a food box to each family that needs it this year during Christmas."

The plan, she said, is to have them ready in early December.

Rolfes said she's looking at the possibility of holding another Weight Watchers food drive before Christmas.

"It's kind of a win-win situation. I'm losing weight but I'm helping others," Rolfes said. "And members have really stepped up."

Lose For Good is also uniting the efforts of Weight Watchers across the nation.

"This year, for every one million pounds members lose, Weight Watchers will donate $250,000, up to $1 million, to two hunger fighting organizations," Rolfes said.

One organization is Share Our Strength, which aims to make sure no child in America grows up hungry.

The second is Action Against Hunger, which helps feed people in troubled parts of the world.

"Every week I send in the number of pounds we've lost, and they add up the total at Weight Watchers," Rolfes said.

Across the United States, members also donated 1.5 million pounds of food to community food banks like the Christian Needs Center.

Others can bring donations to help with the Weight Watchers drive, Rolfes said. Donations can be dropped off during the Weight Watchers meeting from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at the Assembly of God church in Le Mars. People are also welcome to join the meeting, Rolfes said.