Canned food drive raises 16,000 cans
Published Monday, February 1, 2010
NATCHEZ — The Natchez Food Pantry ran out of food Thursday morning; but by 3:30 p.m. that day nearly 7,000 cans filled the pantry’s shelves.
The just-in-time delivery Thursday was only one of half a dozen made last week by the staff of The Natchez Democrat, employees from the Adams County Correctional Facility and Cathedral School students.
In total, the community-wide We CAN do it! food drive sponsored by The Democrat raised 16,080 cans.
Seventeen local teams collected non-perishable food items, and 15 teams participated in the structure-building portion of the competition.
The largest single collection of cans came from Cathedral School’s students, who raised 6,636 cans.
Other top teams included West Primary with 2,675, Frazier Primary with 1,534 and Copiah-Lincoln Community College with 1,001.
Cans were distributed evenly between the Natchez pantry and Feed the Hungry in Vidalia.
Feed the Hungry Director Linda Bonnette said she had never received such a large donation at once.
But the competition isn’t over yet, and all community members are encouraged to participate in the next phase, to benefit the Natchez Stewpot.
Photos of each can structure are featured on pages 6, 7 and 8 of today’s A section and in an online gallery.
Community members can cast a 50 cent vote for their favorite structure by visiting The Democrat’s front office anytime between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday of this week.
No votes will be accepted after 5 p.m. Friday.
Schools, offices and other groups can collect money at their site and send one person to The Democrat’s North Canal Street office if they would like.
“Feel free to stuff the ballot box,” Democrat Managing Editor Julie Cooper said.
“Vote as many times as you like, bribe people to vote and vote for more than one entry. The sole purpose of this contest is to raise money for the Stewpot and have a little fun.”
Structures fall into one of three categories — schools, churches/civic groups or businesses. A winner for each category will be chosen.
Winners will be announced in Profile 2010, Common Bonds: Our Essential Elements on Sunday, Feb. 28.
