Community Food Drive seeking funding, volunteersThe effort began about 20 years ago under the direction of the Rev. Bettie Kennedy, still a driving force behind the distribution. The first drive began with about 50 baskets given out through the help of Collins Chapel CME Church. The next year it grew to 220 baskets, then 350, expanding each year to its current number averaging around 1,000 baskets.
Baskets are taken to homes across the area, and to people in locations including Buckner House, the Foster Grandparent program and retirement homes including Pinewood Park and the Lewis-Toran Community Center.
"It's just climbed and climbed," Love said. "It's a pretty far-reaching effort."
Volunteers gather on one Saturday morning a year the week before Thanksgiving. They begin with prayer before forming an assembly line, filling cardboard boxes with ham, vegetables and all the staples to provide the hungry one holiday meal and then some. More volunteers load baskets into cars, trucks and vans, delivering cheer throughout Lufkin and adjacent communities.
The drive is one of the few true community efforts in Lufkin, with people of all ages and backgrounds working together toward a single goal — to feed the hungry.
St. Cyprian's Episcopal Church got involved in the drive in 1998 under the encouragement of the Rev. Hugh Bell, former rector, and the tradition has continued, with the church playing a major part in funding and volunteer support, said Love, who is a member.
Love encouraged others in the community to join in the effort by making donations of their time and money. Volunteers drivers are needed. Maps and city sections with addresses identified on them will be given out Saturday to assist drivers with deliveries.
http://www.lufkindailynews.com/hp/content/news/stories/2008/11/17/food_drive.html
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