The Good Samaritan Center of Loudon County, in partnership with postal carriers throughout Loudon County, is looking for community support to bring in food donations to help those in need during the summer months.
Good Samaritan Center officials are encouraging the community to donate canned good and nonperishable items as part of the 2015 Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive, which will be held Saturday in Loudon County, rain or shine.
At the end of the school year and throughout the summer months, Good Sam typically witnesses a spike in the number of needy families looking for assistance, Executive Director Karen Bowdle said, adding that Stamp Out Hunger is the last large food drive until the annual Battle of the Bridge fundraiser and food drive in the fall.
“We had a wonderful spring with quite a few food drives from churches for Lent and that sort of thing, but food goes out these doors very rapidly, and so I think we have already pretty much plowed through the donated items from those food drives,” Bowdle said. “This is our last chance to stock up before those summer months.
“In addition to it being the last large food drive before Battle of the Bridge, it comes right before the time that kids are getting out of school,” she added. “Low-income children who are on free and reduced lunch programs when they are not in school they do not have access to food like I wish they had access to food. Children can’t help that.
“We love the idea of having a stocked up pantry for single moms, single dads and families who are struggling to come and get food and try to help them get through these summer months when they have more mouths to feed and need to feed those mouths more often,” she said.
Bowdle said all funds collected in Loudon County will directly benefit the local Good Samaritan Center. Last year’s drive brought in 13,500 pounds of food. Bowdle said she hopes this year’s effort surpasses 15,000 pounds.
During the next week, postal carriers will place plastic bags in mailboxes marked for the annual hunger drive. On Saturday, residents are encouraged to fill up those bags with canned good and nonperishable items. Bags should be left in mailboxes for postal carriers to pick up.
“This whole county is very generous on that day,” Bowdle said.
No glass or perishable items will be accepted.
“They can use any kind of grocery bag,” Bowdle said. “Just write on there clearly with a marker for food drive.”
In addition to mailbox pickup, Tellico Village residents are encouraged to drop off their food products 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday at the Tellico Village Volunteer Fire Department, 210 Chota Road. The Good Samaritan Center also accepts food items throughout the year. Good Sam is located at 119 A St., Lenoir City.
Lenoir City postal worker Scott McCarty said the annual food drive plays an important role in helping those less fortunate.
“I hate the idea of any child going hungry, and I think that this is something that we can do,” McCarty said. “We are already out in the community. This is something we can do to hopefully stamp out hunger. In the summertime folks tend to donate less, whereas when it’s cold outside people think more about children and families being hungry, and they donate more. This is one of the reasons why the (National Association of Letter Carriers) along with the postal service chose this time of year.”
McCarty said the food drive has been assisting Loudon County residents for more than a decade.
“The Good Samaritan Center came along, and that certainly ramped up the enthusiasm for our carrier in Lenoir City because they knew all the contributions from the folks in Lenoir City and Loudon County were putting out would stay in Lenoir City and Loudon County,” McCarty said. “That was very important to our carriers.
“The ones who donate every year, they’re the ones who really deserve the recognition,” he added. “They’re the engine that drives the food drive every year.”
