Second Harvest Food Bank, Lilly Broadcasting, and Northwest Savings Bank have launched the Eighth Annual Food Drive and Fundraiser in Warren County.
Mike Boyd, spokesman for the effort and Manager of Northwest's West Side Warren Office, said, "We're asking everyone in Warren County who is able to take part to help us this year. Hunger is a real problem, and we're asking our residents to donate non-perishable food-canned and boxed goods-and frozen turkeys or donations in the form of cash or checks. They can be dropped off at any Northwest Savings Bank office and we'll work with the Second Harvest Food Bank to make sure that they get where they're needed most."
Alternately, individual donors may drop off gifts of food or funds at any Northwest Savings Bank Office in Sheffield, Tidioute, Warren or Youngsville at any time from now until Wednesday, November 14.
"On Nov. 14," Boyd continued, "the program will peak with "Drive-Through Donation Day." On that day, WICU TV, Channel 12, a part of Lilly Broadcasting, will broadcast live from Northwest's Downtown Office in Warren to televise donations as people make them. The city of Warren has agreed to limit Liberty Street between Second and Pennsylvania to just one lane and Northwest staff members will be outside at the curb to help accept donations as folks drive by from 6:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Come down and you might get to see yourself on television."
The team hopes that using the downtown for the climactic drop off point will increase donations this year.
Boyd stressed that donations of food and funds remain here and benefit Warren County. Specifically, food donations will benefit the First Church of the Nazarene, Warren, The St. Joseph Church Food Pantry, Warren, The Sheffield Area Food Pantry, Sheffield, and The Youngsville Evangelical United Methodist Church, Youngsville.
Corry will also hold a drive-through donation drive for non-perishable food donations and gifts of checks and cash at its location at 80 West Columbus Avenue in Corry on November 16.
"The vital thing we want to communicate is the need for food," Mr. Boyd concluded. "We've set our goals high. We need to raise thousands of dollars and as many pounds of food as possible to fight hunger here at home, but I know, with the generosity of Warren County's residents, that we can do it."
According to national statistics, a donation of food equal to $1 made to a food bank equals $17 in food at retail prices.
For more information, contact Mike Boyd at 814-726-1070.