Food Brigade needs donations, volunteers

Organizers of the Newton County Food Basket Brigade are still in need of help for this annual charity event.

"The dollars that we received are down just a little bit from previous years, but that has been offset by the fact that we have received considerably more food this year than we have in year's past," said Dave Winegardner, Newton County Food Basket Brigade publicity chairman. "Having said that, I can say that we have met and exceeded the 90,000 pounds goal."

As of press time, $22,763.50 in monetary donations had been donated. Last year, contributions included more than $25,000 in cash donations that were used to help purchase food. However, there were only 766 families, representing more than 2,600 people. Last year's food basket brigade was the second largest distribution in the history of the brigade.

This year, more than 950 families, comprised of more than 3,000 individuals, will receive the traditional "food baskets" on Saturday at the old Neosho National Guard Armory.

The goal of the brigade is to provide food for a traditional Christmas dinner plus basic staples to last up to two weeks for Newton County residents certified as low income, disadvantaged, disabled and / or elderly in need of assistance. Virtually all individuals and families certified to receive food through the Food Basket Brigade are also receiving assistance from DFS, Economic Security Corporation, the Neosho Crosslines, the Help Center and other relief agencies during the brigade.

The basic premise of the basket brigade is that in this land of plenty, nobody should have to go hungry at Christmas.

Those who will receive the food will report to the armory at their specified time, which was assigned to them when they signed up for assistance. When they arrive at the armory, it will look like a grocery store. They will walk through pushing a shopping cart, where numerous volunteers will hand them food according to the number of recipients in their family.

"We still have donations coming in," said Lewis Cole, vice president of the Brigade.

Starting at 2:30 p.m. Friday, volunteers are needed to help preparing for the distribution day, along with getting the food baskets ready for the homebound individuals and the outlining areas.

"Volunteers are doing it because they want to," Newton County Food Basket Brigade President Robert Allen said.

Those wanting to help on Friday are asked to show up at the armory. Then on Saturday, organizers are asking anybody who would like to help distribute the food in the armory can enter at 7:30 a.m. or anytime during the day.

"We have people of all ages who will volunteer," added Allen.

Any leftover food from the distribution day and money will be given to the Neosho Help Center to either purchase food or to restock the food pantry. That food will be used to help families in January.

For more information, contact Robert Allen or Lewis Cole, co-chairmen at 451-4453 or 451-4217, respectively, or Dave Winegardner, publicity, at 451-1040 or KQYS AM 1420 at 451-1420.

Since its beginning in 1988, the food basket brigade has collected more than 1.5 million pounds of food for the Christmas baskets.

Neosho Daily News

Important dates/stats

Food distribution will be held on Saturday, Dec. 15, at the Neosho National Guard Armory. Some home deliveries will be taken.

Money or checks may be made to Newton County Food Basket Brigade. They may dropped off at the KQYS radio station, 216 W. Spring St.