It’s that time again!
The Mad River Valley Interfaith Council is again organizing the annual Thanksgiving Food Drive for families in need in the Mad River Valley. For the past several years, the drive has helped between 50 and 75 families in need on Thanksgiving, allowing them to celebrate a full meal with their families, with no cost to them.
"The generosity of The Valley has been awesome and we ask you to donate again this year," said organizer Judy Beningson.
Those who can donate food items can bring them to The Valley Reporter where food and donations of money will be accepted.
Items needed – and the sizes needed – include applesauce (23 oz.), biscuit mix (box), brownie mix (box), canned fruit (15 oz. can, any type of fruit), canned vegetables (big cans: corn, peas or green beans), crackers (8 oz. box), cranberry sauce (16 oz. can), canned/bottled gravy (10 oz.), orange or apples (one bag), peanut butter (18 oz. jar), potatoes (1 bag), stuffing (1 can/bag) and tuna (12 oz. can).
The Valley's local churches are also collecting food; check church bulletins for more details.
Those who prefer to donate money are invited to do so. Organizations will use it to buy missing items. Checks can be made out to the Mad River Valley Interfaith Council and dropped off at church or The Valley Reporter office on the north side of the Mad River Green in Waitsfield or mail to Mad River Valley Interfaith Council at P.O. Box 342, Waitsfield, VT 05673.
The MRV Interfaith Council consists of members from the eight Valley faith groups. "For this Thanksgiving Food Drive, we work to fill the gap in services form state and federal programs to help families in Fayston, Moretown, Waitsfield, and Warren. This project has helped many, many families over the years, providing them with a full dinner with turkey, potatoes, vegetables, stuffing and dessert. Any surplus items will be used to fill up our local food pantry shelves, so give all you can," Beningson said.
Those who are in need or know of a family in need can contact one of the following resources to request a Thanksgiving basket: Valley schools (see the school nurse for information), the local food shelf (sign-up form), local churches (speak to the pastor or look in the bulletin) or the Capstone project, located inside Waitsfield United Church of Christ. Organizations need the name, address and number of people who will be eating.
