A youth-led effort to help restock the Community Food Pantry will be held next Sunday.
Members of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church’s Catholic Youth Organization, which has sponsored the event annually for about 30 years, are gearing up for the “Youth Can Make A Difference: Canned Food Drive.”
“It’s a really amazing thing that we do every year,” said Juan Hernandez, a 14-year-old who is a CYO member. “It’s one of the greatest things, because you get to group around with other Christian denominations, and you get to help out your community.”
While held by the CYO, the canned food drive is an ecumenical event. Youth groups from a variety of denominations participate each year.
Hernandez said the youth groups have a friendly competition where they try to collect the most while out canvassing the community for cans.
“It just makes it a lot more fun,” he said about being able to come together with other church youth groups. “We’re divided into districts where we go out and collect food for the people who need it.”
The youth groups will collect cans from 3:30 until 5:30 p.m.
The CYO’s goal is to collect 10,000 cans this year.
Greenwood residents can participate by placing non-perishable canned goods on their doorsteps or front porches. Those who will not be able to participate next Sunday can drop off items at Immaculate Heart of Mary’s Parish Center.
CYO members will also be located outside of Greenwood Market Place to collect cans next Saturday.
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“We are really wanting this to be a communitywide event and are trying to give everyone an opportunity to participate,” said Stella Britt, an Immaculate Heart of Mary parishioner.
Britt said there are two reasons why the Immaculate Heart of Mary youth members are so passionate about the canned food drive.
One reason is that the Community Food Pantry depends on this event. In fact, it’s one of only two major canned food drives held each year that benefits the Greenwood non-profit. The CYO canned food drive occurs in the fall, and the other, which is sponsored by the U.S Postal Service, occurs in the spring.
“Sometimes, they can only provide necessity items on a day-to-day basis; but this event takes the pressure off of the Food Pantry and allows them to not only restock cans, but also put focus on other items, such as cleaning supplies,” said Britt.
Another reason why this event is important to the youth is that it brings all denominations, races and cultures together for a couple of hours for one goal — to be of service to their community.
“We are able to put our ‘worldly issues’ aside to come together as one Christian community to worship and serve others,” said Britt. “That is one of the coolest things to me. We are trying to teach our young kids the importance of service.”
Britt is a former CYO member and participated in the “Youth Can Make A Difference: Canned Food Drive” as a teenager. The experience of collecting canned food for the Community Food Pantry as a teen is one that made an impression.
“I remember the late Mrs. Flo Abraham being so passionate about helping others,” said Britt. “Every time she spoke to us as teenagers, we all were moved by the experiences of people she helped. She motivated us to serve others, and I know the Food Pantry is still running today because of her efforts in the early years.”
Anthony Ola, a former CYO director, helped the youth kick start the canned food drive in the late 1980s.
The idea originated from a youth movie night, where admission was one canned food item that would later be donated to the Community Food Pantry.
Feeling that contribution would not be enough to make an impact, the youth members opened the challenge to their church. From there, the desire to donate to the Community Food Pantry grew communitywide, and the “Youth Can Make A Difference: Canned Food Drive” was born.
“Our youth have dedicated almost 30 years of bringing young people together to serve others,” said Britt.
Community Food Pantry Director Tommy Ellett said he is appreciative of the CYO’s continued support.
“It has a large impact on our inventory,” he said. “It’s just a wonderful boost and helps us this time of the year. We get a variety of different things that are very useful, and we’re able to provide better boxes.”
The Community Food Pantry served 612 families in August and 608 in July.
Ellett said the number of families served has double over the past 10 years and averages at a little more than 600 each month.
The qualifications to receive a box of food are being a Leflore County resident and receiving $100 or less per month from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
Recipients are referred to the Community Food Pantry by the Mississippi Department of Human Services.
With food boxes at the Community Food Pantry are Martha McMinn, left, and Tommy Ellett.
Ellett said the majority of the recipients are in their late 50s and older and many are disabled.
“I think so many times we concentrate on foreign missions. This is a wonderful way for the youth to minister to our local community, and it’s really a blessing to see them involved in picking up the cans, delivering them and unloading them,” he said.
Ellett said the Greenwood community has been very supportive of the Food Pantry over the years.
“This community has a big heart and is always ready to help those in need,” he said. “It’s wonderful to see that spirit, and we certainly appreciate it.”
Those who are purchasing cans for the drive are encouraged to get smaller cans over the larger cans, because they are easier to distribute among families.
More than 20 Greenwood-area churches have been invited to participate, and, as of this week, 11 have committed to collect cans. Churches that have not yet mailed back forms but plan to attend are encouraged to contact the Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish Office, which will allow organizers to plan for snacks and equally distribute neighborhood maps.
For more information, call the Parish Office at 453-3980.
nContact Ruthie Robison at 581-7233 or rrobison@gwcommonwealth.com.
What: “Youth Can Make A Difference: Canned Food Drive”
When: The youth groups will collect cans from 3:30-5:30 p.m. on Sept. 23.
Where: Youth groups will meet at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church Parish Center, 310 Henderson St., before the drive.
Details: Donations of canned food can be placed outside the front door to be picked up by area youth. The canned food drive benefits the Community Food Pantry.
