Schools join Lions food drive program

Elgin Lions Club president Ed Bates has initiated a program for collecting nonperishable foodstuffs for the local food pantries. A halting start was made during the 2008 holiday season, and it was decided to make a more concentrated effort this year and not restrict it to the holiday season.

Current plans are for collecting food through February. It was recognized that there is a need for providing food to our neighbors who have found a rough patch in their lives long after the holidays.

Schools have been brought into the effort. Ziegler's Ace Hardware has donated large red collection bins that are placed in convenient locations in schools. So far, they have been placed in Highland, Coleman and Lords Park elementary schools. The response of the students and staff of those schools has been spectacular.

At last count, about 700 nonperishable food items have been contributed to the Salvation Army and the Elgin Community Crisis Center. Members of the public can also contribute at any of the schools. The need is there. Other schools can arrange to participate in the program by contacting Bates at batesed@cod.edu.