Kiwanis holding holiday food drive

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OXFORD — The Oxford Kiwanis Club is asking residents to contribute food items to its annual Holiday Food Drive, scheduled for 1 to 4 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 6.

Residents should place nonperishable food in bags or boxes next to their front doors by 1 p.m. that day for collection by identified volunteers. Volunteers will pick up food and knock on doors.

The drive collects food for the Oxford Community Choice Pantry holiday baskets. The pantry distributes these baskets to needy families in the Talawanda School District to be used for their Thanksgiving and December holiday meals.

Although there are many sources of donations, the Kiwanis drive, which has been conducted for over 20 years, is one of the largest food drives of the year for the Oxford Community Choice Pantry. The pantry regularly serves about 300 families.

Needed items include canned or boxed green beans, stuffing mix, cranberry sauce, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, fruit, and mixes for breads and desserts.

Additional items needed for other meals include canned or boxed fruit juices, soups, pasta, rice, tuna, chicken, boxed dinners, peanut butter, cereals, and bread and muffin mixes. Monetary donations will also be accepted for bulk purchases of needed items.

Volunteers will go door-to-door in the city, as well as the neighborhoods of Bonham Road and Springwood. They will carry boxes with Holiday Food Drive flyers clearly identifying them and will knock on doors if no food is left out.

Residents who would like to volunteer to collect food should meet by 1 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 6, at the Presbyterian Seminary building (on Church St) at 12:30 p.m. Snacks and drinks will be provided for volunteers afterwards.

Following the drive, the Community Choice Pantry will sort and distribute the food, making Thanksgiving, December and general bags for each family. Last year, the Kiwanis club, along with about 200 Oxford residents and Miami University students and staff, collected over 6,000 pounds of food — enough to make over 500 holiday meals.

Organizations planning to assist the Kiwanians in the food drive include: Key Club, Circle K, Builder’s Club, Air Force ROTC, Navy ROTC, Girl Scouts, Brownies, Daisies, Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, Alpha Phi Omega, Methodist Youth Group, Presbyterian Youth Group, Evans Scholars, Community Engagement and Service Office of Miami University, Campus Ministry Center, and Student United Way of Miami University.

Questions? Call 513-523-8961.

R-H Staff

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