ANCA says Facebook helped double food drive for the poor

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Glendale chapter of the Armenian National Committee saw its holiday food drive donations more than double this year, going from helping 150 families in 2010 to providing help to about 350 families this year, organizers said.

They attributed a big part of the success to social media.

“Facebook helps,” Executive Director Elen Asatryan said Dec 22 night as the organization dispersed the donations.

The Armenian National Committee has led the food drive campaign the past five years in conjunction with other local organizations.

The group’s Facebook page has about 1,100 friends, almost twice as many as last year, Asatryan said, so reaching out to them directly was a big help. Committee members also posted information on the Facebook pages of other organizations to get the word out.

The social media campaign also helped make sure the organization collected the types of food needed throughout the drive.

Other organizations that participated in the food drive were the Glendale Youth Center, local chapters of the Armenian Cultural Foundation Juniors, Armenian Relief Society, Hamazkayin, Homenetmen and St. Mary’s Armenian Apostolic Church, Glendale News-Press reported.