Annual food drive Saturday

Students from Central Elementary in McCook deliver foods donated by students to the McCook Pantry in late 2008. The pantry's annual fall food drive will be Saturday. Non-perishable foods may be placed in grocery sacks at front doors for pick up by McCook Scouts, or delivered to the McCook Pantry located inside the north door of the Canterbury House of St. Alban's Episcopal Church at 509 W. First (next door to the Gazette on the north), between 8 a.m. and noon. (Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Daily Gazette)

The McCook Pantry plans its annual fall food drive Saturday.

Pantry volunteers report that 735 McCook and area families have been served by the Pantry so far this year. Usage of the Pantry has increased over the past four years, from 5,500 people served in 2005 to 6,629 people served in 2008.

So far this year, through July, the Pantry has served 3,849 people, or an average of 550 per month.

The Pantry serves families in every community in Southwest Nebraska from Wilsonville to Wauneta, from Arapahoe to Benkelman.

On Friday, McCook Scouts will deliver grocery sacks to the front doors of McCook homes, and will return Saturday morning to pick up residents' donations. Residents whose homes are not contacted are encouraged to call (308) 345-4844.

On Saturday, non-perishable food items may be delivered to the Pantry, located in the Canterbury House of St. Alban's Episcopal Church at 509 W. First (next door to the Gazette on the north), between 8 a.m. and noon. St. Albans donates space and utilities for the Pantry operation.

Monetary contributions may be mailed to St. Alban's parish house at the same address. The Pantry spends about $1,200 a month on perishable foods such as bread, eggs and margarine, and on government commodities such as flour and sugar.

Non-perishable foods that may be donated are: Canned fruits and vegetables, peanut butter, soups and stews, pork 'n beans, canned meats, dry pastas, rice, dried beans, breakfast cereal, flour and sugar, crackers, canned or dry milk and macaroni and cheese mixes.

Please check expiration dates on foods; the Pantry cannot distribute foods whose expiration date is past.