WACO collecting nonperishables in annual food drive

The Woodfield Area Children's Organization is reaching out to the community for the nonprofit's 21st annual Thanksgiving Food Drive. WACO will be collecting food and toiletries from now until Nov. 18, and then will sort and distribute it to 200 families in need on Nov. 19.

Nonperishable items such as canned vegetables, boxed potatoes, rice, pasta, soup, spaghetti and pasta sauce, canned meats, breakfast items, canned fruit, macaroni and cheese, peanut butter and jelly, gravy, stuffing mix, dessert mix, hamburger helper, etc. are needed. WACO is also collecting nonfood items not covered by food stamps, such as toilet paper, shampoo, soap and toothpaste.

More than 25 area schools and businesses in 11 different villages will have donation boxes this year.

Food can be donated at:

• Algonquin: Jacobs High School;

• Arlington Heights: Advance Mechanical Systems, Fitness 19;

• Bloomingdale: Rooster's Barn and Grill, Walk-In Closet;

• Franklin Park: Ajax Tool Works;

• Glendale Heights: Armstrong Relocation;

• Glenview: Highland Ventures Ltd.;

• Hampshire: Hampshire High School;

• Hanover Park: Denny's;

• Palatine: Harper College, Winston School;

• Rolling Meadows: LeasePlan;

• Schaumburg: Arkadin, Enders-Salk School, The Goddard School, The Illinois Institute of Art, Patrick BMW, Cadillac, Hyundai, Mini and Volvo, Microsoft Store (Woodfield Mall), Nation Pizza Products, Rosati's on Wise, Schaumburg Toyota, Village of Schaumburg, and Weber Grill.

"We need volunteers to help us sort the food on Saturday, Nov. 19," says committee chair Adam Howard. "If you're interested please arrive at the Schaumburg Township Building, 1 Illinois Blvd. in Hoffman Estates, by 7 a.m. We expect to be finished by 11 a.m., if not sooner," he adds.

WACO also needs a few able-bodied people to assist its crews on Friday, Nov. 18, as they go around and retrieve all the food that has been collected.

If you can help with this, or for more information about the food drive, please contact Adam Howard at (312) 856-3616, ashoward1@gmail.com or visit WACO's website at www.waco4kids.org.