With the cost of groceries continuing to increase, buying food has become more of a struggle this past year and the need for food on tables has become more prevalent. The Emergency Food Box has seen the number of served families rise to 600, or 2,000 people, each month.

Seeing the need, Marshalltown Area United Way kicked off a community-wide food drive on Nov. 3. Feed the Need is accepting nonperishable food items until Dec. 1.

“When there’s a need in the community, the Marshalltown Area United Way shows up. That’s what we do,” Events & Marketing Manager Rachel Norton with Marshalltown Area United Way said. “We saw the need and we showed up.”

The goal of the drive is to “fill the critical gaps” for organizations which receive fewer donations during the holiday season. This year, the donations will be given to CAPS (Child, Adolescent and Parent Support), the House of Compassion, Mid-Iowa Triumph, the Salvation Army, YSS and the ISU Extension Office to help fill little food pantries in town.

Norton noted that the Emergency Food Box is not a recipient.

“An intentional decision to avoid duplicating efforts, as the VFW has already hosted its own collection on their behalf,” Norton said.

Whether or not Feed the Need will become an annual event has not yet been determined. United Way did not establish a firm goal in the number of pounds of groceries or the dollar value. They just want to create the biggest impact possible.

“Marshalltown Area United Way encourages the community to participate generously and help strengthen support systems across Marshall County,” Norton said.

DROP OFF LOCATIONS:

Donations of nonperishable food items can be taken to:

• Marshalltown Area United Way, 709 S. Center St. *Norton said hygiene products may only be dropped off at this location;

• Taco Johns, 907 S. Center St.;

• Premier Real Estate, 2003 S. Center St.;

• Happily Ever Crafted/In Stitches, 36 E. Main St.;

• Pinnacle Bank, 2206 S. Center St.;

• Lennox Employees Credit Union, 1004 E. Main St.;

• Animal Rescue League of Marshalltown, 1921 Taylor Ave.;

• Alerus, 303 W. Main St.;

• T2K Nutrition, 2501 S. Center St., Ste. T;

• Marshalltown Area Chamber of Commerce, 34 W. Main St.;

• Holy Grounds Coffee, 507 Iowa Ave. W.;

• Hangloose Nutrition, 121 N. Main St., Conrad;

• Velocity Nutrition, 123 W. Main St., Tama and;

• Mini Miracles Daycare in Le Grand.

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Contact Lana Bradstream at 641-753-6611 ext. 210

or lbradstream@timesrepublican.com.