Troup food drive starts Saturday

The 26th annual Spirit of Christmas Food Drive, sponsored by Brookshire Grocery Co. and the Troup Cares, begins on Saturday, Nov. 17.

The food drive provides food for needy families in the Troup area at Christmas.

"We have always had tremendous community response to the food drive, said Sam Anderson, BGC's director of public relations. "This has grown into one of the largest privately sponsored charitable efforts in the region."

Area residents may make donations by placing non-perishable food items in designated bins located in participating Brookshire's or Super 1 Foods stores.

People are asked not to donate homemade goods or items in glass jars. Bulk items, such as flour, sugar and corn meal, should be donated in smaller sizes to allow for more variety in the boxes given to the recipients.

In addition to the public food donations, each family will receive at least one roasting hen from Brookshire Grocery Co. Members of the participating service organization will sort, package and distribute the food to the families before Christmas.

All food collected in the area will be distributed in the Troup area. Families assisted by the Spirit of Christmas Food Drive are selected by local relief organizations or government agencies according to need.

The Spirit of Christmas Food Drive began in 1982, when 92 families in Tyler, Texas, received assistance.