By Rebecca Lane
- Wed, 12/02/2009 – 22:19

Photo by Jake Nielson. Representatives from Platinum Protection load food donations into moving trucks.

Typically, when Platinum Protection’s salesmen knock on a door they are looking to sell home security products and services, but today they will put aside their sales skills and knock for a different purpose.

“We figured that since we have so many guys that have door knocking experience … once a year we like to get out and knock on doors for a good cause,” said Jacob Nielson, head of corporations at Platinum Protection.

About 400 Platinum Protection employees will be knocking on doors, collecting canned food for the Food Bank. The majority of employees will be collecting between 1 p.m. and 7 p.m.
“Pretty much every town or every city we have allocated to a team,” Nielson said.

This will be Platinum Protection’s second year taking a day to serve the community instead of working. During last year’s efforts, Platinum Protection collected 34,000 pounds of food.
“That was the largest donation that has come from a corporation,” Nielson said.

This year Platinum Protection is hoping to surpass its record by collecting 40,000 pounds of food.

“We’re hoping that the excitement that everyone has carrying over from last year helps out,” Nielson said.

Platinum Protection hopes to obtain its goal by collecting for two more hours than it did last year.

Another option for Provo residents to donate food is to drop off canned goods at 1261 S. 820 E. in American Fork from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

“Almost all of our employees unanimously felt like last year’s food drive was an incredible experience,” Nielson said. “Mostly because they felt like they were a part of something special.”