Mega Food Drive gets under way on Wednesday

By Erienne Greene / Journal Staff Writer

MARTINSBURG - The United Way Mega Food Drive is set to begin Wednesday, and organizers hope that this year's turnout will be bigger than ever because of increased local need.

The drive will continue through Sept. 15, and it takes place in conjunction with the annual Day of Caring volunteer event.

"Every year that we collect food and deliver it to the food banks, it's a success. This year, we're looking to improve on that success to keep them full until November, when the next round of food drives happens," said R.B. Seem, one of the organizers. "Typically, with Thanksgiving around the corner, the community thinks to donate food because it's around the holidays, but I think in the summer months, people tend to forget about that need - but it's still a really critical need."

Seem said the Day of Caring is in its 15th year.

"You could say the food drive has become more 'mega' every year, but this year, what we're really doing is striving to meet our slogan, which is 'Fill a bag to feed a family,'" he said. "With everything going on, the need for food donations remains a very important issue."

Seem said that in Berkeley County, the CCAP/Loaves and Fishes food pantry will benefit from the food drive, while the food pantry at Jefferson County Community Ministries also will be helped through the drive.

"Both of those organizations really need a lot of food, and we're looking for all non-perishable food items, like dry pasta, canned pasta sauce, canned soups, macaroni and cheese. ..."

Along with the food drive will be several other events throughout the community that will try to bring in more donations for the cause.

"The big thing that we are doing will be on Sept. 11, when volunteers will be stationed outside of the Martin's here in Martinsburg to collect items from shoppers who would like to donate," Seem said. "In the meantime, though, everyone in the community is encouraged to deliver foods to businesses that have the 'Fill a bag to feed a family' poster, or to any local bank, which will also accept the items."

He said Martin's has opened an account specifically for donations to be made to the United Way's food drive, and that all of the donations of food will be picked up on the Day of Caring.

"We'll be out at War Memorial Park that morning for the volunteer breakfast, and will also be accepting donations at that point," he said.

Each Day of Caring project has sponsoring organizations, and this year's food drive sponsors include the Martinsburg Noon Rotary Club and the Young Professionals of the Eastern Panhandle.

More information is available by calling Seem at (304) 264-4000.

- Staff writer Erienne Greene can be reached at (304) 263-8931, ext. 183, or egreene@journal-news.net