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Volunteers distribute more than 100 food boxes during Wood County Christmas food drive

By Amber Phipps 3 min read

PARKERSBURG -- The Wood County Resiliency Center distributed about 80 out of 120 boxes of food during the first hour of its Christmas food drive Friday.

Starting at 9 a.m., those in need had an opportunity to drive through the garage at the center to collect a box packed with canned goods and fresh foods.

"We had a line of people right when we started this morning," said Wood County Resiliency Center Director Sydney Weber.

By 11 a.m., nearly all of the 120 food boxes had been collected. Each box contained canned goods like green beans and corn along with sides like mac n'cheese and cream of mushroom soup.

The boxes also included a fresh ham, rolls, and ingredients to make sugar cookies, jello, and yams with sugar and marshmallows.

"Monday and Tuesday were donation days and then we extended it for two more days because of the weather," said Weber. "We closed it up yesterday around noon."

The center had partnered with various organizations who all made the food drive possible.

Partnerships included the Jon Six Food Ministry, Coplin Health Systems, Latrobe Street Mission, West Virginia University at Parkersburg Foundation, Jobs & Hope West Virginia, the Salvation Army of Parkersburg, Moon King, the B2L Foundation, and the Children's Home Society of West Virginia.

"It's important for us as a government entity to partner with nonprofits because we can't take monetary donations or fundraise," said Weber. "It's nice for us to partner together."

Weber said they had a similar food drive during Thanksgiving because of the lapse in SNAP benefits. She said they're looking to host the food drive again next year for the holidays.

Jon William Six with the nonprofit Jon Six Food Ministry said they started collecting donations for the food drive about a month ago.

"We raised about $2,000 which took care of about 50 (food) boxes," said Six, adding once the menu was put together they went out and purchased all the food at Walmart. "Everyone had their part."

There were about 20 volunteers helping during the food drive. Individuals would pull in through the garage where a volunteer would place the box in their car. The drive-thru proved to be efficient during the morning rush when the food drive began.

Weber said they're already looking into potential partnerships for next year as well as adjusting the process itself if there's any improvements that can be made.

Weber and Six said they noticed there were a lot of people with pets so it could be a good idea to include dog treats during the food drive or partner with the Humane Society of Parkersburg.

"I feel like it went really well this year but we can always improve on making it more seamless for folks," said Weber.

The food drive was first come first serve so the volunteers passed out the boxes of food until every box had been distributed to people in need for the holiday season.

Amber Phipps can be reached at aphipps@newsandsentinel.com

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