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A giant model of a Blendtec blender is filled up with paper cutouts of Campbell's soup cans at Blendtec in Orem, on Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2014. Each can represents money and food donated to the company for their food drive. IAN MAULE, Daily Herald

Ian Maule, Daily Herald

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A giant model of a Blendtec blender is filled up with paper cutouts of Campbell's soup cans at Blendtec in Orem on Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2014. Each can represents money and food donated to the company for their food drive. IAN MAULE, Daily Herald

Ian Maule

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In one of many efforts across Utah Valley to feed those in need this holiday season, Blendtec and McNeil Printing have partnered for the first annual Fill the Blender — Feed Our Community drive. 

The drive aims to fill Blendtec’s recently constructed larger-than-life 37-foot blender with paper-can replicas indicative of the donations raised for Community Action Food Bank, an effort that would provide 53,000 meals. With nearly two weeks left, the blender is creeping up to being half-way filled.

“Our tagline and motto at Blendtec has always been, ‘Feed Your Passion,’ ” said Reagan Nickl with Blendtec. “We decided that feeding our community was something many people could get passionate about.”

Blendtec hopes to raise $10,000 and 10,000 pounds of food with the help of the community by Dec. 23. According to Community Action Food Bank, each year it collects and distributes more than 3.5 million pounds of food to assist an average of 2,100 families a month.

“During the holiday season, the cold pushes the need even higher than normal, making it important for the whole community to get involved,” said Dave Smith, Food Bank Manager at Community Action in a press release.

The entire Utah community is invited to fill the blender by bringing canned goods, non-perishables and cash donations to the Blendtec headquarters at 1206 S. 1680 W. in Orem. Additionally, the community is invited to contribute other donations through the Community Action Virtual Food Drive online.