Published: October 05, 2008 11:25 pm            

Feeding the hungry, one subdivision at a time

Food drive will benefit area pantries

When Louise Downs read that The Salvation Army’s food pantry was low on necessities, she decided to do something about it.

“I saw where The Salvation Army was closing down for a few days,” Downs said. “We live in Florida during the winter months, and I felt we should do something before leaving.”

She will hit the neighborhoods looking for food donations on Saturday. The food drive will visit 14 Howard County subdivisions with hopes of donations for area food pantries.

Residents are asked to leave non-perishable food items — as well as toilet paper, bar soap, tissues and detergent — near their mailboxes. Starting at 10 a.m., volunteers will collect the items.

Through her efforts, volunteers stepped forward in the area subdivisions to assist in the effort.

“It was not hard to do,” Downs said. “People are generous when you ask them to help.

“With the food we are able to raise, it should help keep a kid from going hungry,” she said. “Fourteen subdivisions should come up with quite a bit of food.”

Downs said The Salvation Army is opening for the day to receive the donated items.

Janet Quinn, social services director for The Salvation Army, said she was overwhelmed when she learned of the effort.

“I have been doing this for 14 years and know Kokomo is a giving community,” she said. “I’m humbled and pleased.”

Quinn said two years ago The Salvation Army helped start a food pantry network in Howard County so that the pantries would share donations. She said the food and items donated Saturday will be shared with other pantries in the county.

“We know everyone is struggling right now,” she said.

The subdivisions taking part in the food drive are Chippendale, Water’s Edge, Hunter’s Cove and Circle, Timber Ridge, Woodhaven, Devon Woods, Green Acres, Willow Ridge, Western Woods, Brookshire Estates, Windwood Park, Spice Run, Ivy Hills and Devonshire.

For more information, call (765) 453-7255 before Saturday, or you can call (765) 432-2338 on Saturday.

Ken de la Bastide can be reached at (765) 454-8580 or via e-mail at ken.delabastide@kokomotribune.com



Lend a hand:

• WHAT: Food drive benefiting local pantries

• WHEN: Starting at 10 a.m. Saturday

• WHO: Subdivisions include Chippendale, Water’s Edge, Hunter’s Cove and Circle, Timber Ridge, Woodhaven, Devon Woods, Green Acres, Willow Ridge, Western Woods, Brookshire Estates, Windwood Park, Spice Run, Ivy Hills and Devonshire.

• HOW: Residents in the 14 subdivisions are asked to set non-perishable food items at their mailbox for pickup.

• CONTACT: (765) 453-7255

        

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