The Downtown Food Pantry is hoping the community will help them gather 5,000 boxes of stuffing to make this year’s Thanksgiving meal special for those in need.
“Anyone who pays attention knows the people in the Paris area are incredibly generous and give out of compassionate hearts to organizations like us that help others,” said executive director Allan Hubbard. “Our annual stuffing drive is just one example.”
The pantry helps on average 750 families per week in Lamar County, about 20% of the local population each year.
Donated stuffing boxes will be distributed through their normal choice style grocery store process during the month of November.
Paris ISD will again conduct its friendly campus vs. campus contest, complete with traveling trophy for the winning school.
“Paris ISD delivers more than 3,000 boxes every year in their stuff-the-bus effort. Jennifer Ray and Jerrica Liggins are big pantry cheerleaders and we appreciate how much fun they make it,” Hubbard said.
Both North Lamar ISD and Chisum ISD are looking into participating, Hubbard said.
“Kiwanis and Rotary have challenged each other in the past. Sunday school classes, businesses or other organizations can create their own contest for fun or simply donate whatever they’re willing.”
Pantry staff are available Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon to receive boxes now through the deadline of November 10.
They ask donors not leave boxes of product outside unattended. Brand name or generic boxes are accepted.
Downtown Food Pantry is located one block northwest of the Lamar County Courthouse at 124 W. Cherry St.
