Annual Feed-A-Friend drive kicks off

Susquehanna Community’s student council coordinates the school’s Feed-A-Friend efforts and collect non-perishable food items for the drive outside of Schenider’s Market in the Shoppes Plaza each year. Sitting, from left: student council members Timothy Flanagan and Sean Leonard. Standing, from left: Susquehanna student council adviser Mike Matis, Trehab’s Edlyn Flannery, Commissioner Leon Allen, student council members Lauran Marco and Stephania Skurski, Commissioner MaryAnn Warren and Debra Valunas, of Rep. Sandra Major’s office. STAFF PHOTO/STACI WILSON

BY STACI WILSON

More than 1,000 Susquehanna County families received Thanksgiving dinners from the Feed-A-Friend program in 2009, and the need continues this fall.

Trehab executive director Dennis Phelps said that in looking at the state of the county, he believed the Feed-A-Friend program served a critical need.

“This year, we see the same need, the same importance,” said Phelps at the program’s kick-off luncheon held last Tuesday (Oct. 5) at the Montrose Bible Conference. “It’s more than just a dinner at Thanksgiving.”

This is the 26th year of the holiday outreach that is coordinated by the two county food banks. One food bank is located in Montrose; the other is in Oakland.

This year, Phelps said, plans are to serve about 1,100 families and raise about $10,000 for Feed-A-Friend in Susquehanna County.

Phelps also reported Trehab was working on setting up a system to provide emergency assistance for food with other local agencies. “We’re constantly looking at how to reach more people who need help,” Phelps said.

County Commissioner Leon Allen, who is also a school bus driver, told the group that he is sometimes the first adult some children see in the morning. “Some kids can’t wait to get to school for the meals,” Allen said.

“It’s unfortunate we have the economic situation we have here (in Susquehanna County),” said Commissioner MaryAnn Warren, “but we’re fortunate to have people helping other people here.”

Representatives from area school districts and service organizations also attended the program launch and shared their part in the annual program.

“Every year we rely on the schools,” said Phelps.

Feed-A-Friend efforts vary in the five school districts that participate.

Blue Ridge High School student council adviser Kristin Hinkley explained the food drive was run as a competition between each of the grade levels in the Blue Ridge’s three schools with awards going to the classes that bring in the most donations.

Montrose Area Key Club adviser Susan Bennici said the in-school drive is meeting more and more resistance.

“Some families can’t help out,” said Bennici. “(The need) is hitting families in our school.”

In addition to donations brought to school, Susquehanna Community’s student council also collects donations outside of Schneider’s Market, said student council member Stephanie Skurski. The collection dates for this year have not been set yet.

Montrose Area Key Club collects donations in a community-wide food drive. The public is made aware of the donation day and food is picked up by local Kiwanis members, parent organization of the Key Club.

The Key Club also helps pack the dinner boxes for distribution and Kiwanis members distribute food and help with the flow of traffic during basket pick-up hours.

Area churches also take part in the county-wide effort, collecting dessert mixes for the baskets.

Christian Services’ Carol Winkleblech reported that $1 from every Angel Food Ministries box sold is donated to Feed-A-Friend and Interfaith’s Christmas Bureau.

But she said, sales of the monthly food boxes were down in recent months.

Oakland Food Bank coordinator Aletha Monahan said Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts would be going door-to-door Nov. 7 collecting non-perishable food items for the program.

Phelps also thanked Peoples National Bank for its support of the Feed-A-Friend program in the county.

Donation canisters and Feed-A-Friend barrels will be popping up across the county from now until Nov. 17.

Non-perishable donations may be dropped off Nov. 15-18 at the Montrose Food Bank, located on Industrial Park Drive, off Rt. 29, between Montrose and South Montrose. Call 278-5269 with any questions.

Drop off for the Susquehanna Food Bank will be Nov. 17-18 at the Christ Episcopal Church, 1107 West Main St., Susquehanna. Call 853-4342 for alternate arrangements if necessary,

Please note, this will also be the location of the Giveaway Day. Feed-A-Friend baskets will be distributed on Tuesday, Nov. 23.

Food from area school districts will be collected Wednesday, Nov. 17.