The Salvation Army is calling for cans and boxed foods to fill its pantry throughout the summer.
Melissa Baynard, social services worker with the Salvation Army’s Columbus MS Corps, told The Dispatch Tuesday that the need for food security has been growing as the summer approaches.
“Especially as the warmer months come, I’ve seen new faces coming in looking for food assistance,” Baynard said. “I know schools will be letting out here pretty soon, if they’re not already out for summer, so we know a lot of families are in need of food, especially with their kids out of school.”
The drive started on Monday and will run through May 30, Baynard said, as a way to collect items for the food pantry at the beginning of the summer, though she anticipates the group will host another food drive in August.
The Salvation Army is asking for donations of canned goods, including vegetables, fruit and meats, along with other shelf stable items like mac and cheese, boxed potatoes, or milk (canned, powdered or boxed), along with other dry goods like cereal, oatmeal, beans or rice.
Drop-off locations for the drive include The Salvation Army at 2219 Main St., Columbus Fire Service at 2516 South Main St. or The Commercial Dispatch at 516 Main St.
Vanessa Poteet, office administrator with Columbus Fire Service, said she volunteered for the Salvation Army to use their location to collect donations for the food drive. She has a barrel set up in the store, which she hopes will get filled up before the drive ends.
“We’re just trying to make it to where everybody can eat and not have to worry about it,” she said. “We shouldn’t have to worry about whether or not we’re going to eat in America.”
Poteet said anyone is welcome to come to the store from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, except when CFS closes for Memorial Day. But if anyone cannot make it to the store, she is happy to help with facilitating in other ways.
The Commercial Dispatch will also be acting as a drop-off location for the Salvation Army’s canned food drive. The Dispatch’s offices are open and will be accepting donations from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, except for the Memorial Day holiday.
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 38 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
