On a sunny, stormy, windy and cold day (all in one five hour period) the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) held its annual Fill the Fire Truck Food Drive at the new 10 Box grocery store on Saturday, Nov. 18. The food drive collected non-perishable food items for the Saint Vincent De Paul food pantry and Child Concern Center.
More than 673 food items, 30 non-food items and $400 monetary gifts were collected.
At the end of the food drive it was overwhelming when the 10 Box Store gave a $100 gift card for the purchase of food items for those in need. The money represents more than $1,200 of items that can be purchased at the local food bank by Saint Vincent de Paul Food Pantry.
First Christian Church members thanked the managers and the employees of 10 Box for allowing them to park the fire truck in front of the church and ask for donations for those with food insecurities and Poplar Bluff and Butler County. Also, thanks to Three Rivers College for the use of its fire truck and Jack Armour, director of the fire science program.
Special thanks to the W. E. Sears Youth Center for sending its youth to help unload the donations, but most importantly 'thank you' to the local community who joined the church by purchasing non-perishable food items for the community.
First Christian Church looks forward to a long relationship with 10 Box as they both seek out to stomp out food insecurity in Poplar Bluff and Butler County.
"We look forward to one day when everyone will have enough to eat every day," a church spokesperson said.