While running around town trying to find that perfect gift you may have noticed some empty cardboard boxes popping up in various businesses and government officers. The boxes, hopefully, won’t be empty for long and will be soon spilling over with toys and food for the less fortunate in the county.
At Tuesday’s meeting, Jim Fouss, chairman of the Community Food Pantry, and members of the Washington College chapter of SIFE, Students in Free Enterprise, presented their latest plan to feed the county’s hungry.
SIFE has teamed up with the food pantry to collect 5,000 cans of food. If SIFE reaches its goal Campbell’s Soup will donate money to the pantry.
Chris Tateo, program manager for SIFE’s Let’s Can Hunger, said the group had collected more than 1,000 canned goods so far and has received numerous monetary donations from the community.
The need for food is stronger than ever this year it seems. Fouss said the food pantry serves 225 families a month. This year the organization expects to feed about 150 new families. The pantry is on pace to distribute more than 125,000 pounds this year, 60 percent of which it buys itself.
“Thank you for being involved in this great program … you’re filling a need in the county that unfortunately is growing all the time,” said Commissioner Ron Fithian.
Let’s Can Hunger boxes can be found at 400 High St. and around Chestertown. Dominic DiMarino, SIFE president, and Max DiFilippo, SIFE vice president of public relations, were also at the Tuesday meeting.
Donating to the food pantry is not the only chance to do some good this holiday season. Robyn Moore, representing the Lions Clubs Christmas Basket Program, was also at the commissioners’ meeting.
Lions Clubs throughout the county, along with help from 4-H, the fire companies, and various other organizations, get together every year and put together boxes of food and toys. The boxes are then distributed to families throughout the county. A list of families in need is provided to the Lions Club by the Department of Social Services.
This year volunteers will be packing close to 600 baskets, Moore said, and the number has gone up every year.
Each basket contains enough food for dinner and breakfast, some toys, and coupons for bread, butter, eggs and milk.
Moore said as well as donations people are needed to help pack, deliver, and clean up.
“Even if you don’t have time to come help I suggest you come watch it … it’s an amazing process,” said Fithian.
Christmas Basket packing will be on Monday, Dec. 12 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Kent County Community Center. Boxes for Christmas Basket donations are around town and the commissioners’ office at 400 High St.
Donate Toys, Food
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