Farm Bureau hosts annual food drive
Don Carter, longtime coordinator of the Washington County Farm Bureau’s annual food drive, wants potential donors to “think local.”
As much as possible, he wants to see food and household products remain in the communities where the donations are made.
“What we’re trying to do is we’re trying to localize it as much as we can,” Carter said. “When a collection box is full, the food bank can truck to the local food pantry. That way, they’re not having to handle it twice.”
There are 45 pantries around the county, plus seven agencies that need supplies for people whom food bank donations director Heidi Hoffman calls the “food insecure.” She especially hopes to see donations of high-protein food. The organization serves 5,400 households a month.
The Washington County Farm Bureau food drive began 14 years ago with seven collection sites that netted 500 pounds of food.
“Each year, it seems like the demand keeps going up,” Carter said.
“This year, we’re shooting for 14,000 pounds. It’s a long process, and I’ve enjoyed doing it for a great organization, Greater Washington County Food Bank.”
The drive, which lasts through March, includes Washington County Ag Days March 11 and 12 at Washington Crown Center mall.
Carter is coordinating his efforts with Hoffman, who started work Jan. 4 at the Greater Washington County Food Bank, which moved in October to a former Country Fresh grocery store and surrounding land it purchased in Centerville Borough.
The operation was formerly located in a rented warehouse in Eighty Four.
The Farm Bureau drive also features two contests. “The library and 4-H club that collect the most food will each get a cash prize,” Carter said.
“It’s a win-win-win situation for everybody. The food bank is the ultimate winner, and we’re also supporting the libraries and the 4-H clubs.”
In addition to food, which must be donated before “use-by” dates, the drive accepts personal hygiene and cleaning supplies.
Hoffman said cash donations to the Greater Washington County Food Bank enable the nonprofit organization to make bulk food purchases.
Also participating in and promoting the food drive, but not offering collection sites for the general public, Carter said, are the Courthouse Square office building, Southpointe Chamber of Commerce, MarkWest Energy Partners and Houston plant and Canonsburg Sportsmans Club.
Collection sites:
Avella: Community Center/Library, 11 School Court
Bentleyville: Public Library; Ed Schultz Nationwide Insurance Agency, 1000 Main St.
Burgettstown: Petrucci’s Market IGA, 146 Main Street and Community Library, 2 Kerr St.
California area: Office of state Rep. Pete Daley, Center in the Woods, 130 Woodland Court; Public Library, 100 Wood St. Canonsburg area: Frank Sarris Public Library, 35 N. Jefferson Ave.; Bahr Hardware, 136 N. Central Ave.; Dollar General Store, 145 Adams Ave.; North Strabane Township Building, 1929 Route 519
Cecil: Washington Hospital Outpatient Center, 3415 Millers Run Road
Centerville: Greater Washington County Food Bank, 909 National Pike West
Charleroi: John K. Tener Public Library, 638 Fallowfield Ave.
Claysville: Minteer’s Market, 211 Main St.
Donora: Public library, 510 Meldon Ave.
Eighty Four: Agway store, 1025 Route 519, which will direct its donations to the Prosperity food pantry
Finleyville: First Niagara Bank, 3500 Extension Ave.
Fredericktown area: Public Library, 38 Water St.; Millsboro Save-A-Lot grocery store
Hickory: Subway eatery, 186 Main St.; Dollar General store, 176 W. Main St.
Houston area: Chartiers-Houston Library, 730 West Grant Street; Dollar General Store, 124 W. Pike St.; First Niagara Bank, 22 E. Pike Street
Marianna: Public library, 247 Jefferson Ave.; Log Cabin Fence, 411 Ten Mile Road, Amity
McDonald: Heritage Library, 52 Fourth St.; Giant Eagle store, 200 Station St.
Midway: Community Center, 304 Noblestown Road
Monongahela: Public library, 813 W. Main St.; Cox Market, 711 Route 481
Peters Township: Public library, 616 E. McMurray Road; Goodwill store, 3492 Washington Road; Matthew Baculik Nationwide Insurance Agency, 2862 Washington Road; Dan Wingard Nationwide Insurance Agency, 4050 Washington Road
Washington area: Citizens Library, 55 S. College Ave.; Mike’s Feed Store, 310 Cleveland Road; Goodwill store, 89 Jefferson Ave.; Dollar General Store, 935 Henderson Ave.; Dollar General Store, 155 W. Beau St.; Chad Borghini Nationwide Insurance Agency, 981 Jefferson Ave., Washington.