By Auggie Brown
Glasgow News 1
The To the Brim Food Drive will return Sept. 2 through 5 to support the Community Relief Fund food pantry in Glasgow.
Food donations will be collected at Houchens Southgate, Walmart and Ruler Foods, and all items will go to stock the Community Relief Fund’s pantry.
The event has been held on Labor Day week, Wednesday through Saturday, for 18 years, according to food drive founder Dr. Mody.
Mody said the drive used to bring in enough food to keep the pantry supplied until around Christmas. In recent years, however, he said donations have decreased while demand for assistance has gone up. As a result, pantry supplies now often run low by Thanksgiving.
Community Relief Fund’s Stacey Janes said the pantry has recently moved into a larger facility, giving them about 20 more feet of shelving space for food. The new location is in the building that used to be Pa’s Pantry.
She said the To the Brim Food Drive now operates within Community Relief Fund, which manages the program and distributes assistance to families.
Janes and Mody both emphasized that more children, seniors and other residents are turning to the pantry for help.
They said that even as the broader economy appears to improve, more people are struggling with food insecurity and relying on local food assistance.
Janes and Mody are encouraging residents to begin purchasing nonperishable items now and plan donations during the Sept. 2-5 drive.
They said donations can also be made directly to the Community Relief Fund pantry during its regular hours.
Janes said the pantry is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., except for lunchtime, and Tuesday and Thursday from 8 a.m. to noon.
She added that those who cannot make it during those times can call to arrange another drop-off time.
They said larger donations can be coordinated by contacting the pantry, and volunteers may be able to pick up bigger loads.
In addition, Mody said donations can be taken to other partner locations, including Habitat ReStore, his office and the Community Medical Care office on North Race Street, if the pantry is closed.
There will also be an open house for the new food pantry facility on Wednesday, Aug. 26 at 11 a.m., according to Janes and Mody.
The event will give residents a chance to see the new space and learn more about how the pantry operates and how to help.
Dr. Mody is asking the community to “step up” and support the food drive so shelves stay stocked beyond Thanksgiving and throughout the year.
Key Facts
– To the Brim Food Drive runs Sept. 2-5 over Labor Day week
– Donations benefit the Community Relief Fund food pantry in Glasgow
– Drop-off locations include Houchens Southgate, Walmart and Ruler Foods
– Organizers say the pantry now runs low on food by Thanksgiving
– Community Relief Fund has moved into a larger pantry facility with more shelving
– An open house for the new pantry is planned for Wednesday, Aug. 26 at 11 a.m.
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