City-wide food drive continues
The Colony Courier-Leader/BLAINE CRIMMINS, Staff writer
Beginning with last week’s American Heroes event, The Colony Parks and Recreation Department has begun a community food drive benefiting local food banks this holiday season.
The Food 4 Families Community Food Drive officially kicked off on Nov. 7 at the Veterans Day festival at Stewart Creek Park, where admission to the event was either a food donation or $1 per person. There was also a silent auction at American Heroes that benefitted the food drive.
“We are off to a great start,” Recreation Manager David Swain said. “Many people showed up at American Heroes with bags of items to donate, which was much more than we had asked for, so we are very grateful that everyone thus far has been very generous to help support this mission.”
Donation boxes have been placed at several locations in The Colony. Donations may be made at City Hall and the library, 6800 Main St.; The Colony Recreation Center or Community Center, 5151 North Colony Blvd.; The Colony Aquatic Park, 5580 North Colony Blvd.; Austin Ranch Dry Creek Lodge, 6800 Sumner St.; or at CiCi’s Pizza, 3805 Main St.
“CiCi’s Pizza has generously donated a free drink to every customer who brings in a food donation, up until the conclusion of the food drive on Dec. 5,” Swain said. “There are two other opportunities to help the efforts as well. On Thursday, Nov. 19, at Texas Roadhouse and on Saturday, Nov. 21 at Chick-fil-A, a portion of your bill will be donated back to the food drive if you let your server know that you are there to support the food drive.”
Special Events Coordinator Sree Kolloru said the need to help local families was apparent once they began planning.
“When we met with representatives from the local food banks and learned that they are having trouble keeping their shelves stocked because of the number of new families who are seeking their assistance, we knew that we had to do something,” Kolloru said. “These are our friends and neighbors who are struggling to make ends meet, and what better time of the year than here at the holiday season to try to help them out?”
Donations will go to three different food banks at churches in The Colony, Holy Cross Catholic Church, First United Methodist Church, and Horizons Church.
Dave Gramm with Holy Cross said it was a blessing when he learned that the city was organizing a large-scale food drive.
“We just processed 60 families yesterday who signed up for Thanksgiving dinner (baskets). We gave away turkeys with the trimmings and everything, and it just about wiped out our pantry again,” Gramm said, adding that the church assisted 35 families this time last year. “Now we’re getting ready to gear up for Christmas. The need is there. … Even our weekly pantry usage has increased from 15 to 25 families a week. A lot of people are out of work, and there’s a lot of needy families out there. We’re trying to help as many as we can.”
The Food 4 Families Community Food Drive will be going on through the month of November, and will conclude at the annual Parade of Lights and Holiday in the Park events on Saturday, Dec. 5. Donation boxes will be located at Perryman Park as well as on a float during the parade. Residents are encouraged to bring donations to these events.
Suggested items for donation are box cereal, pancake mix or muffin mix, canned veggies, canned soups, ramen noodles, spaghetti sauce, spaghetti noodles, macaroni and cheese, peanut butter, dry pinto beans, canned meats (tuna, chicken, spam, etc.), canned fruit, toiletry items (toilet paper, soap, shampoo, toothpaste and brushes, feminine products, etc). If donating a food item is not an option, monetary donations are also being collected. Please send monetary donations to: Parks & Recreation, Attn: TC Food Drive, 5151 North Colony Blvd., The Colony, TX 75056.
For information, contact the Parks and Recreation Department at 972-625-1106. |
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