TOWNSHEND — The National Honor Society and the CLEA Committee are hosting the annual Project Feed the Thousands food drive at Leland & Gray Union Middle and High School.
Every year during the holidays, designated food shelves around southeastern Vermont and southwestern New Hampshire - including the Townshend Food Shelf - collect various non-perishable food items while distributing them back into the community wherever hunger relief is needed.
Representatives from some of these food shelves around the area came to promote their cause during a school-wide assembly just before the Thanksgiving break.
WTSA news director Tim Johnson, a longtime participant in Project Feed, thanked Leland & Gray for its consistent annual contributions over the years.
“One out of every five Vermonters goes to bed hungry every night,” he said. “It is our duty to give back to the community and to take care of one another. The little contributions we all make can make a big difference.”
When Project Feed started in 1994, Johnson said approximately one tractor trailer of food could meet demand.
By comparison, the goal for 2012-13 is to fill 27 tractor trailers with food and raise $100,000 to buy additional supplies from Vermont Foodbank.
Pastor Christine Dyke of the Townshend Congregational Church reinforced the importance of helping the community.
“These people that come in swallow their pride so that they can feed their families,” she said. “It's important that we all volunteer and help out where we can, if we can. When we all step up and work together, the biggest of challenges seem like nothing.”
Project Feed the Thousands will collect food donations through early January, 2013. Items sought include pasta, pasta sauce, peanut butter, soups, tuna, canned fruit, baby food, rice, and other canned meals.
Leland & Gray students have collection boxes for the drive in their homerooms. The rest of the community may drop off their donations at Project Feed collection boxes at area grocers, businesses, churches, and elsewhere. All support is greatly appreciated.
Cash donations may be left at any branch of River Valley Credit Union, or else mailed to Project Feed the Thousands, in care of River Valley Credit Union, P.O. Box 8366, Brattleboro, Vt., 05304-8366. Donations also are accepted at www.feedthethousands.org/donate.