Tomorrow is #GivingTuesday and it’s a time for all of us to give back.

One place that is highlighted during the holiday season is our local food shelves.  Greene County Action Resource Center Site Manager Diane Blackmer says the need for food items increasing dramatically during the holidays.  Over the last two months, they’ve averaged 111 families in need.  Items that are needed at this time include macaroni and cheese, canned soup, chili beans, pork and beans and canned fruit.  Blackmer points out that they will also accept monetary donations, which helps them get other items from the Food Bank of Iowa.

“I think they average about 17 cents per pound (of food) for whatever item we’re getting.  (There’s) donations of frozen meat (and) sometimes dairy products.  All of it is very inexpensive, when I say we pinch pennies, we do.”

Personal items that are needed include gender neutral deodorant, shampoo and soap.  The ARC also has free items such as clothes, furniture and household items for those in need.

  Along with people donating to the food pantry, Blackmer adds that volunteers also help to give back.  A bulk of the volunteers are church-related groups, but Blackmer says other people help too.

“A club will meet and collect items to bring in.  We’ve had a couple recently that have just asked, what can we do, we’re going to have a meeting on such and such a date and can we ask people to bring something?  All of that is very helpful.”

The ARC is open every Wednesday and the third Saturday of every month from 9:30am to noon.  To donate items outside of their hours of operation, contact Blackmer at 515-370-0650.  She asks that donations not be left outside of their location when it is closed, due to damaging the items.

You can help the local food pantry at our Caring Christmas Food Drive going on this morning at Jefferson Telecom from 9 to 11am.