United Bank kicked off a two-week food drive to assist needy families across its Southwest Alabama and Northwest Florida footprint Monday.

The bank’s first ever United We CAN food drive will offer employees, customers and local residents the opportunity to donate canned and boxed goods at United Bank branches through Friday, Nov. 18. The collected items will be distributed by the Bay Area Food Bank to help fight hunger as the Thanksgiving holiday approaches.

United Bank President and CEO and Bay Area Food Bank board member Bob Jones said food drives can make a big difference in a community, especially around the holidays.

“It’s impossible to even begin to consider how best to manage your finances or plan for the future when you’re concerned about how you will feed your family today,” Jones said.   “As a community bank, United understands that when we help meet even the most basic needs, we help ensure a better tomorrow for our customers and communities.”

Donations for United We CAN will be accepted at specially designated areas in each bank branch. As part of the food drive, the bank is asking donors to focus on items that can be used for Thanksgiving such as boxed stuffing, canned corn, green beans and rice; however, all items will be appreciated.

Through the Bay Area Food bank’s distribution network and partnerships in Alabama and the Florida Panhandle, donors can be certain items they give will help families in their local areas. In United Bank’s Atmore market, donations will specifically benefit Atmore Area Christian Care Ministries, a Bay Area Food Bank partner.

For more information about United Bank or the United We CAN food drive, contact Greg Walker, VP for Sales, Marketing & Business Development, at 251-605-4477, or by email at gwalker@ubankal.com.