MCFB To Launch 'Stock The Sleigh' Food Drive Monday

CONROE-MONTGOMERY COUNTY, TX — The Montgomery County Food Bank announced its 2021 holiday food drive Wednesday, inviting county residents to pitch in and help food insecure people in Montgomery County.

The food bank's Stock The Sleigh drive, which begins Monday and runs through Dec. 3, gives residents, businesses, civic organizations and schools multiple options to get into the spirit of giving during the holiday season.

People and organizations can contribute through direct donations, sponsorships, hosting a food drive or participating in a Christmas ornament fundraiser. Volunteers are needed for the drive's drop-off event on Dec. 4 at Montgomery County Food Bank, located at 1 Food For Life Way in Conroe.

Many Montgomery County residents' access to healthy food was negatively affected by COVID-19 as the pandemic reversed long-declining food insecurity rates throughout the United States, according to data from Feeding America. An estimated 15.3 percent of Montgomery County residents were food insecure in 2021, which is up from 12.3 percent in 2019.

"The gift of food has the power to change countless lives in our community," Montgomery County Food Bank President and CEO Kristine Marlow said in a news release. "The donations we receive during Stock The Sleigh will provide holiday meals and hope to thousands of children, seniors and families who have had a difficult time this past year. We have such a caring and generous community, and I would like to encourage our entire county to participate in this year’s holiday food drive as we continue fighting hunger and feeding hope in Montgomery County."

After receiving 70,000 pounds of food in last year's drive, Montgomery County Food Bank has upped the ante with a goal of 100,000 pounds of food in 2021 in addition to a monetary goal of $50,000.

Organizations wishing to host a food drive need to register online, download a food drive toolkit and schedule a time to pick up a food drive box. For those wanting to get festive, groups are encouraged to decorate their boxes with a holiday theme for the drive's box decorating contest.

The following food items are most needed, according to MCFB:

• Canned meat or pouches (tuna, chicken, spam).
• Grains (rice, pasta, macaroni & cheese).
• 100 percent fruit juices.
• Canned vegetables (low sodium, no salt added).
• Canned or dry beans.
• Peanut butter.
• Canned fruits (light syrup or its own juices).
• Hot and cold cereals (oatmeal, cheerios, corn flakes).
• Healthy snacks (raisins, granola bars, protein bars).

The food drive ends with its drop-off event and festive celebration from noon to 4 p.m. Dec. 4 at the Montgomery County Food Bank. The holiday fun-filled event will feature hot chocolate, cookies, pictures with Santa and tours of the food bank.

Monetary donations can be given at any point during the fundraiser, and the donor's name will be added to an ornament and hung with others representing each donation. A $1 donation provides five meals for food insecure people in the county, according to Montgomery County Food Bank. People wanting to help Stock The Sleigh's fundraising efforts can sign up for the event's ornament fundraiser.

Sponsorship opportunities for Stock The Sleigh are available but sell out quickly, according to the release. To sign up for a sponsorship or learn more about the event, contact Director of Development Jamie Dietrich at (936) 271-8822 or jdietrich@mcfoodbank.org.

Patch has partnered with Feeding America to help raise awareness on behalf of the millions of Americans facing hunger. Feeding America, which supports 200 food banks across the country, estimates that in 2021, about 42 million Americans may not have enough nutritious food to eat due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. This is a Patch social good project; Feeding America receives 100 percent of donations. Find out how you can donate in your community or find a food pantry near you.