Kiwanis organizing summer food drives
COSHOCTON – The summer months are typically hard on food pantries, but the Kiwanis Club of Coshocton is planning a special project to help change that.
“People usually think about donating during the winter time at Christmas,” said Betsy Gosnell, president of the Coshocton Kiwanis Club. “June to September they don’t think about it, but that’s during the time when kids are out of school and not getting free or reduced breakfast and/or lunch. Many children in the community take part in free lunch programs that are offered, but parents still need help. We want to give back to the community and make sure that all kids have food.”
The first of Kiwanis’ two food drives this summer will start in June. Thanksgiving in June will be held June 1-27 and Christmas in July will be held July 1-25. During both of these time frames, nonperishable food items can be dropped off at: Coshocton Regional Medical Center, Coshocton City Hall, Dean’s Jewelry, Given-Dawson-Paisley Funeral Home, Woodsfield Bank at Wal-Mart, Coshocton Elks, Shopwise in Warsaw, and the Ridgewood General Store in West Lafayette.
Gosnell said food collected in West Lafayette will remain there to be used at the pantry maintained by the police station, Warsaw donations will help a food pantry there and Coshocton’s will be divided up between The Salvation Army, New Life Ministries and Shepherd’s Christian Assembly.
“Members of the club will be responsible for picking up the goods and being a point person for each location,” Gosnell said.
A list of suggested donations provided by The Salvation Army include: Canned fruit, soups, meats, and vegetables, spaghetti sauce, spaghetti noodles, instant potatoes, box dinners, pancake mix/syrup, pudding, Jell-O, Bisquick mix, peanut butter, jelly, cereal, juice, crackers, beans, sugar, soaps (laundry, dish, hand), toilet paper, and personal hygiene items. Gosnell asked that only non-glass items be donated.
“The generous canned good drives that take place in December usually sustain the pantry until May, then the post office food drive in May puts some more food on the shelves, but June through September the shelves sometimes get down to miscellaneous food items rather than the basic staples,” said Captain Tom Clark from The Salvation Army. “We appreciate all the donations we receive but do ask people to think of the basic food items families will eat rather than the obscure leftovers from their pantry that have expired.”
Category: Clubs & Organizations
