Huntersville Food Drive Set For Saturday: Donations Most Needed

HUNTERSVILLE, NC — A food drive set for this weekend in Huntersville offers area residents an opportunity to help food insecure families in the community feeling the pinch from the ongoing pandemic. The Saturday community food drive event is seeking non-perishable food to benefit Angels & Sparrow Soup Kitchen, Caterpillar Ministries and Hearts and Hands Food Pantry.

Feeding America, the nation's largest hunger relief organization, says coronavirus-related economic crises could push the number of food insecure Americans to 54 million by year's end. That's 17 million more Americans than who were food insecure before the pandemic. For some, it's a matter of running short on grocery money before the week is out and eating a lot of boxed pasta and rice dishes.

In Mecklenburg County, about 12 percent — or about 126,200 people — were considered food insecure before the pandemic, according to Feeding America's "Map the Meal Gap" interactive study.

SEE ALSO: Coronavirus Increases Hunger: Find A Food Bank Near Huntersville

The Sept. 19 event is hosted by Olde Huntersville Historic Society and American Legion Post 321.

Items needed most, according to organizers, include:

• Hamburger Helper
• Sloppy Joe (Manwich)
• Boxed mashed potatoes
• Rice
• Peanut butter
• Canned vegetables
• Anything non-perishable

"This will be a drive-thru event to ensure proper social distancing guidelines are followed," organizers said. "We would like to request that your donation be placed in your trunk or back of your vehicle. Please enter the parking lot from Main Street and we'll direct you where to stop and pop your trunk. We'll grab the items, so no need to exit your vehicle. When leaving, please exit onto Maxwell Avenue."

The food drive will be held rain or shine, from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. at American Legion Post 321, located at 107 N. Main Street in Huntersville.