SOUTH POINT — With the upcoming holidays, local businesses and groups have teamed up with the Ohio State Highway Patrol for the annual Lawrence County Cram the Cruiser Food Drive.

This campaign is an effort to collect canned foods and non-perishable foods to be donated to food pantries throughout Lawrence County. The program will collect the food items until Dec. 15. At the conclusion of the program, volunteers will distribute items to various food pantries throughout Lawrence County.

Sgt. Chris Smith said, “After the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, a lot of food pantries will be running low and the goal of the Cram the Cruiser campaign is to ensure food pantries have an abundance of food to distribute shortly before Christmas and following the holidays during the winter months.”

This year the highway patrol has teamed up with Glockner’s South Point Ford, Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce, Robin Fowler State Farm of South Point, WKEE/WTCR -iHeart Radio, People for the Point Inc. and the South Point School System.

The programs is in need of the following items: peanut butter, cereal, canned vegetables, canned fruit, tuna fish, dry pasta, canned soup, macaroni and cheese.

Anyone wishing to assist the program by making a donation can drop off items at the following locations: Glockners South Point Ford showroom, Robin Fowler State Farm Insurance in South Point, Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce and at the Ohio State Highway Patrol office in South Point.

Anyone who chooses to drop off and donate at least 10 cans of food at the Glockner’s Ford showroom will receive a free oil change certificate ($29.95 value).

On Dec. 15 the items collected will be distributed to local food pantries by group volunteers.