Last month, Tim Douglas, a volunteer coordinator for the Niles Salvation Army, received a phone call from the United Way of Southwest Michigan.

The nonprofit called to say they were doing a summer food drive and the Niles food pantry was to be one of 22 donation recipients across Berrien and Cass counties.

“It was a God send,” Douglas said.

While the holiday season tends to bring in loads of donations to local food pantries across southwest Michigan, the summer months often see the exact opposite. And while food stocks grow slimmer, the number of those in need does not.

“People need to be aware that the need is year round,” Douglas said.

With one in five children throughout Berrien and Cass counties being food insecure,  the message is an important one. United Way of Southwest Michigan sought to spread the message and tackle the problem.

For the inaugural event, the nonprofit hosted the “Christmas in June” Food Drive.

There were 37 participating businesses that collected the donations, which were distributed Wednesday.

The food drive successfully collected approximately 15,000 different food items.

At Buchanan Middle School, one of several drop off locations, volunteers sorted a number of food items and prepared them for delivery.

Among the volunteers were  Donald C. Cook Nuclear Plant AEP employees Cathy Deau, of Galien, and Jamie Kraft, of Buchanan. Both volunteers work in AEP’s Buchanan office and serve on the United Way Committee.

Deau and Kraft served as a chair to the project’s committee and helped to inspire a friendly competition among the AEP Buchanan office and challenged them to raise 7,500 items. After many email reminders, the company exceeded its goal.

The volunteers said that they were aware of the struggle many food pantries face in the summer months and they wanted to be part of the solution.

Helping to organize the influx of donations was Charlotte Rogers, the director of annual campaign at United Way. Last summer, Rogers said she became aware of the problems that the food pantries faced, when a Benton Harbor emergency shelter contacted her desperate for food to fill their shelves.

“We thought ‘why not leverage the relationship we have with businesses in this community to see if they want to help us out,’” Rogers said.

The first-time event also sought to recognize the United Way of Southwest Michigan’s 75th anniversary, so companies were asked to raise donations in batches of 75. Many companies, like AEP, sought to raise even more.

“It has exploded into something greater than we expected,” Rogers said. “The support we have received from this community is inspiring.”

Rogers hopes to make the event a tradition each summer to aid local food pantries. “We have heard from several businesses that they had fun doing it and they want to do it every single year,” Rogers said. “I think it is a very simple way to give back.”

As Douglas awaited the donations, he approximated that the amount received from the drive would likely last until the end of July.

When summer starts and children no longer have meals available at school, food pantries can face more strain on their supplies.

This month alone, Douglas said the Niles Salvation Army has helped 52 families and 167 individuals by providing food.

With the Postal Food Drive last month and the Christmas in June Food Drive, Douglas said he is grateful for the community support.

With ample donations in stock, Douglas said he can breath easy knowing there is one less thing to worry about.

“This community did great,” Douglas said.