Local food drive hoping to help those in need

Their cupboard is bare, but with Christian Care and Share’s food drive set for December 6, 2016, Eugene Fontenot is hoping their pantry will be filled soon.
Fontenot, who is the Chairman of Christian Care and Share, said, “We like to have our Food For Families Foodnet Food Drive at this time of year because this is the season of giving, and we are hoping that people will continue their generous giving this year.”
This will be the 30th annual Food for Families Foodnet Food Drive that Christian Care and Share will be hosting, and the importance of this drive is as important today as it was the very first year.
Fontenot said, “Today, Louisiana ranks sixth in the country when it comes to the number of children living in poverty. We try to provide people like that with nutritious foods that they may otherwise not be able to afford.”
Last year, the amount of donations that Christian Care and Share received during their food drive allowed the Ville Platte based organization to help 370 different families in this area.
This isn’t just for the kids though.
Fontenot said, “This also helps us provide assistance to the elderly, because they have medicines to pay for and sometimes that takes all of their money. We don’t want them to have to choose between medicine or food. If we provide food to them, then that is one less thing they have to worry about paying for, and instead they can make sure they are able to afford their medicines.”
Food isn’t the only donations that are accepted for this drive though.
Director of Christian Care and Share Ollie Bright said, “Everything we get is valuable, but we definitely need items like canned milk, meat products, canned soups and toiletries. We also welcome monetary donations. We like receiving money so that we can buy stuff throughout the year that we can’t leave on our shelves like canned goods.”
Monetary donations also allow the organization that is run fully by volunteers to assist families when it comes to paying their utilities. Last year alone, Christian Care and Share was able to help 112 families with utility bills.
For people interested in helping Christian Care and Share provide to the needy, you can drop off your donations on December 6th at the Northside Civic Center. Donations will be accepted between 5:00 a.m and 8:00 p.m.
Some of the items that are suggested to be donated are: rice, flour, cornmeal, pasta, dried potatoes and beans, canned vegetables, fruit, fish, juices, milk and meats, peanut butter, syrup, cooking oil, mayonnaise, mustard, coffee, coffee creamer, tea, breakfast foods, crackers, toilet tissue, soap, baby diapers and wipes, jello, jelly, baking products, sugar, tomato sauce, Kool-aid, hot and cold boxed cereals, shampoo, and detergents.
Fontenot said, “There is a lot of poverty in our area, and every little bit we receive allows us to help people in our community.”