Project Feed Columbus, a joint effort between the City of Columbus and The United Way of Lowndes County, as well as local stores Food Giant and Wal Mart, will be ongoing through the end of March. The campaign is a canned food drive to help local food pantries and shelters.
“This is an effort to restock all of the food pantries in Lowndes County,” organizer Glenda Buckhalter of the Columbus Police Department said. “It is something I’ve wanted to do for a long time. The (United States Post Office) did it for a while, but they stopped. We partnered with the United Way of Lowndes County so that we can reach all of the places in need.”
Lowndes County United Way Executive Director Jan Ballard said this is the agency’s second year to partner with the city.
“Our agencies shared with us some statistics last year showing a definite increase in people seeking food assistance,” Ballard said. “We haven’t seen a change in the trend. This is why we are doing back-to-back food drives. We do one in the fall and one in the spring — it helps the people to get by in the off months.”
Ballard said about 9,000 people received services through the area’s five food pantries last year.
“We are asking those who want to help to bring canned fruits and vegetables, canned meats, powdered milk, cereal, dried beans, peanut butter and other goods to Woodforest Bank at Wal Mart, Food Giant on Alabama Street or the police department.”
For more information, call Buckhalter at 662-244-3523 or the Lowndes County United Way at 662-327-0807.
Jeff Clark was previously a reporter for The Dispatch.
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