By Joey McWilliams
BRYAN COUNTY – For the 10th year, Red River Ford and the Bryan County United Way have an annual holiday season food drive underway.
Running through Friday, Nov. 17, this drive provides money and food for local organizations like Families Feeding Families, St. Catherine’s Food Bank and the Hands of Hope Food Bank.
In the past nine years, this food drive has brought in more than 250,000 pounds of food and collected nearly $73,000.
Darrell Mendez of Red River Ford gave simple instructions as to how to find a place around Durant to drop off your donation.
“When you drive around town and you see a yellow banner or a yellow box, it’s somebody asking you to do your part and help out with the food drive,” Mendez said.
Mendez said those involved have been excited about how the community contributes to it, and not only with donations of money and food items, but also the “Ride and Drive” promotion in the spring at Red River, with which $6,000 was raised.
“Right now, we’re asking people to drop off canned food items at one of the businesses or schools that are participating,” Mendez said. “Come by Red River Ford and donate here or give cash. That works out just as well, because the food banks have the flexibility to buy food at an even more discounted rate. So cash actually goes a lot further than any of the food items.
“This is the time of year they really need to have the extra items to make sure everybody has a great holiday season.”
Many schools, organizations and individuals have participated in the event since 2008. Some have collected more than 10,000 pounds of food in that time, including Kiamichi Technology Center, Durant Intermediate School, Pat and Mary Miller, Durant High School, Cardinal Glass, Alorica, Vision Bank, and Red River Ford.
Mendez said he enjoyed participating in an important event like this each year.
“We’re proud to be a part of it and proud of all of our partners who come on board and collect and have a lot of fun with it.”
