The Rotary Club of Marshalltown will host a community food drive from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., June 20 in the Fisher Community Center parking lot.

Only non-perishable items will be accepted, such as canned foods and boxes of pasta. The contributions will go to the Emergency Food Box and Salvation Army of Marshalltown. Cash donations are also welcome.

According to Mary Giese, President-Elect of the Rotary Club of Marshalltown, this is the first year of the event, but they hope to continue it in the future.

“We hope that people will help support this,” she said.

Giese said there are about 120 people in Marshalltown involved in the organization. They have been meeting virtually since the pandemic but are transitioning to provide members the choice to meet in person or virtually.

Giese mentioned their motto is “service above self,” making the food drive a great fit for the organization.

She said Rotary is divided into geographic areas and this district’s governor, Erna Morain, is passionate about addressing food insecurity.

Rotary President Jim Goodman also hopes the community will partner with them for the food drive.

“We’re hoping for a really good experience with this food drive,” he said.

For those who do not have the time to pick out individual food items, Goodman noted that there will be already-packed sacks at HyVee and Fareway for people to buy and donate.

Rotary has a rich history, which Goodman is very knowledgeable about.

“Rotary is a club that was founded in 1905 in Chicago,” he said.

After it was started by lawyer Paul Harris, Rotary has grown immensely, with around 30,000 clubs worldwide.

According to Goodman, Marshalltown started its Rotary Club in 1915, making it one of the earliest small towns to join.

He also said that the organization is involved in projects to build wells in Africa and to eradicate polio through PolioPlus.

Every fall the local organization partners with Coats for Kids to donate coats to disadvantaged children.

“Locally, we’ve been a money-giving organization,” Goodman said.

He said the club plans to also contribute money for the food drive.

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Contact Anna Shearer at 641-753-6611 or ashearer@timesrepublican.com.