Thanksgiving in July Food Drive Underway

By Angie Holmes

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By Becky Ogann

Story Created: Jun 29, 2010 at 12:28 PM CST

Story Updated: Jun 29, 2010 at 12:28 PM CST

IOWA CITY – Although not many are thinking about Thanksgiving dinner these days, the Crisis Center of Johnson County and North Liberty Community Pantry want to keep the needs of the hungry in the forefront.

In its 12th year, Thanksgiving in July is a community-wide food drive in Johnson County to provide food to families during the summer months when the need is especially high.

“Kids are out of school and parents have an increased need,” says Beth Ritter Ruback, communication and development director at the Crisis Center of Johnson County.

The Crisis Center’s food bank and North Liberty Community Pantry are experiencing nearly 30 percent increases in requests for food assistance.

Individuals, businesses, civic organizations and faith-based groups are encouraged to host a food drive or fundraising activity in July.

During July, all financial institutions in North Liberty will be collecting non-perishable food. These include Collins Community Credit Union, Hills Bank, Liberty Bank, Midwest One Bank, University of Iowa Community Credit Union and US Bank.

The financial institution that collects the most pounds wins the Traveling Turkey Trophy to display throughout 2010.

“We want people to understand what their neighbors are going through,” says Tina DuBois, coordinator of the North Liberty Community Pantry.

For more information, call the North Liberty pantry at (319) 626-2711 or visit http://www.nlmethodist.org/pantry.

Starting July 15 during sidewalk sales in downtown Iowa City, businesses will conduct a food drive, aiming to fill their windows with donated non-perishable food.

“It serves as a daily reminder to folks downtown that there is hunger here,” says Joni Schrup, owner of Discerning Eye Optical Boutique, 119 E. Washington St. “They don’t see it all the time.”

More than 20 downtown Iowa City businesses will participate in the Small Businesses Have Big Hearts food drive.

The goal is to keep the pantry full at both locations.

“I get awfully nervous when I come back here and it’s empty,” says Becci Reedus, executive director of the Crisis Center of Johnson County. “We have to tell people we need help and we usually get it.”

Last year, Thanksgiving in July received 36,000 pounds in food. The goal will be similar this year.

Thanksgiving in July activities include:
* July 11: Devotay Benefit Night for the Crisis Center, 5 to 9 p.m. Contact Kim McWane Friese, (319) 354-1001 or www.devotay.net
* July 15-31: Small Businesses Have Big Hearts, food drive to fill the windows of downtown Iowa City merchants. Contact Joni Schrup, Discerning Eye Optical Boutique, (319) 338-6800 or e-mail jschrup@discerningeyeoptical.com
* July 26-Aug. 5: Volunteers are needed at the Crisis Center, 1121 Gilbert Court in Iowa City, for food pickup, sorting and shelving. Contact Brooke Anstoetter, (319) 351-2726 or e-mail brooke.anstoetter@jccrisiscenter.org
* July 30: The Crisis Center, 1121 Gilbert Court in Iowa City, will host a drop-off event from noon to 6 p.m., when participating businesses, organizations, groups and individuals can bring in their Thanksgiving in July proceeds.
* July 30-31: The Crisis Center of Johnson County will host food drives at the four Hy-Vee locations – Coralville, First Avenue, North Dodge and Waterfront from 3 to 9 p.m. July 30 and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 31. The goal is to fill a semi-truck, provided by Hawkeye Foodservice Distribution, at each location over the weekend.

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