The Corner Cupboard Food Bank will be holding their fourth annual Holiday Food Drive on Dec. 5. The event is from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the steps of the Greene County courthouse. The food drive is being held in collaboration with CONSOL Energy, CNX Gas and CESO Inc. Refreshments and raffle baskets are available to win. 

There will be designated parking spots for donors to park their cars in front of the courthouse, and volunteers will be there to help unload the donations. The most needed food items include: macaroni and cheese, canned tuna, peanut butter and canned meats. 

Food is not the only donatable item, though. The food bank will also be collecting monetary donations. These monetary donations will be used to keep the food bank running and the bellies of individuals across Greene County full.

“A lot of people think we’re a county run entity,” Candace Webster, executive director at Corner Cupboard Food Bank, said. “I’m constantly applying for grants to keep the business running.”

With monetary donations, the food bank will be able to purchase the foods that aren’t donated in high enough quantities.

“When providing food every single month to each of our pantries to distribute food to individuals all over Greene County, we spend between $5,000-$10,000 because we don’t have enough food,” Webster said.

For every dollar that is donated to the food bank, they can purchase up to five dollars worth of food to distribute. These monetary donations are monumental, because if the food bank doesn’t have enough of a certain food to distribute, they are able to purchase more of it to be able to distribute the food to their various locations.

Last year, the event raised around $7,000. This year, the food bank hopes to reach their goal of raising $10,000.

Volunteers for the Holiday Food Drive are an appreciated necessity. Coming from CONSOL Energy, CNX Gas, CESO Inc. and other local businesses, volunteers will be at the food drive throughout the day to help.

“It creates a sense of unity and I believe that’s a big part of Corner Cupboard,” Webster said. “Coming together to support those who are in need.”

Before donating, make sure to check the shelf life of products. The majority of what is received and distributed at Corner Cupboard Food Bank are food items that had to be taken off the shelves at stores but are still good to eat. The food bank can not take any food items that are homemade or are not prepackaged.

The Corner Cupboard food bank hopes to start doing two food drives a year, continuing the holiday food drive and hopefully adding another drive in the dryer months. There is a general increase in giving during the holiday season, and by adding another food drive during the summer season, the food bank hopes to encourage that kind of giving throughout the entire year. The holiday spirit drives donations during the winter months, and unfortunately, during the summer, that is not the case.

“We are sincerely grateful for all of the support year-round because it is the community that keeps us going. It’s truly the community support that helps sustain us.” Webster said.