Downtown Food Pantry has launched its annual stuffing drive and hopes to collect enough donated boxes to make sure families enjoy a nice Thanksgiving meal.
“If generous residents repeat what they’ve done in the past we should have more than enough,” said operations director Chuck Burton. “In years past, every family that came through our doors received at least two boxes.”
Boxes of easy-to-prepare stuffing are available in local grocery stores and the pantry appreciates either generic or name-brands. Executive director Allan Hubbard said competitions in the past between school district campuses and Kiwanis vs. Rotary have made the effort a fun rivalry.
“It’s a fun way to give back if individual families, businesses or schools want to challenge each other. They can let us know via our Facebook page or e-mail if they’ve struck up a friendly rivalry and we’ll post it,” Hubbard said.
Pantry staff are available Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 12 noon to receive boxes now through Nov. 26. They ask donors not leave boxes of product outside unattended. Downtown Food Pantry is located one block northwest of the Lamar County Courthouse at 124 W. Cherry St. They distribute free groceries every Tuesday 1:30-4:30 p.m. and Thursdays 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.
For more information, contact Hubbard: allan@downtownfoodpantry.org.