EDINGBURG — Shenandoah Telecommunications Company (Shentel) collected three tons of food recently — up from two-and-a-half tons in 2016 in regards to its Summer Backpack Program.

According to a press release, the program was established to help support regional food banks and area food pantries in Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Maryland.

“The collection helps provide food during the summer to children who are on the free or reduced-price lunch program during the school year,” officials said in the release. “These young people cannot count on school for meals in the summer, which can impact them in ways both short and long term.”

The release cited that Shentel currently has more than 1,200 employees in different business segments. In addition to achieving a company record in the amount of goods this year, more employees than ever took part in this great volunteer program, according to the release.