Donations for the Mad River Valley Interfaith Council’s annual Thanksgiving Food Drive for families in need continue through the week. 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.
In addition to the food and monetary donations made at The Valley Reporter and local churches, Bourne’s Energy and ST Paving have donated 50 turkeys and Cabot has donated six cases of cheese, according to organizer Judy Beningson.
Even with those donations, Beningson said, 20 to 30 more bags of food are still needed to create a Thanksgiving meal for the 60 families that signed up this year.
“We might see a few more before the deadline,” she said.
Volunteers will sort and pack the food next week before the baskets are delivered. Some $250 has been donated which will be used to purchase any items needed.
Beningson said that one person had donated 50 pies.
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).
Those who prefer to donate money are invited to do so. 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. 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.
