The “Harvest for the Hungry” drive for the Community Cupboard is being conducted this week, and citizens are being urged to provide items that will meet the emergency food needs of many throughout the year.

Volunteers canvassed Altus Saturday with paper sacks that can be used to fill with non perishable food items. The volunteers will be back around this coming Saturday to pick the bags back up.

Over the past five years, the number of families receiving food baskets from the Cupboard has doubled with an average 125 baskets being given out each month, and officials are expecting needs to increase in coming days.

Jackson County Community Health Action Team is sponsoring the drive, and United Supermarkets, Putnam Toyota and First State Bank are donating the sacks.

The Community Cupboard is administered and operated by the Southwest Oklahoma Community Action Group, Inc., and is a place for people to receive large baskets of food for emergency needs.

Items that are needed include canned meat...soup...canned vegetables...canned fruit...dried beans...dried peas...pasta...rice...flour...sugar...cornmeal...canned and powdered milk...peanut butter...jelly and jam...Ramen noodles….instant mashed potatoes...crackers...hot and cold cereal...bar soap...laundry detergent...toilet tissue...baby food...and disposable diapers.

Please place your filled bags by your front door no later than 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 15,and they will be picked up. If your house is missed, call 482-5040 on Monday, the 17th, and they will be picked up

Many businesses and organizations are conducting “in-house” drives., and there are “Harvest for the Hungry” collection box locations.

“Harvest for the Hungry” will climax this Sat. Nov. 15, when Budget Rental trucks provided by J.R. and MELANIE WHEELER of Bar W Circle Sales will be set up on the parking lots of the Untied Supermarkets for collection of your donations to the “Harvest for the Hungry.”