Guests set for Kroger food drive Saturday

Published 10:52 am Tuesday, October 25, 2016

PROCTORVILLE — Two special guests will participate in the Community Harvest Food Drive this weekend at the Proctorville Kroger.

John Booten, of Rome Township, will bring his 1931 Ford that he built into a peddler’s truck, a vehicle well-equipped to collect food items.

Nick Kunn, of WTCR-FM (Country, 103.3), will broadcast from the Proctorville Kroger from noon-2 p.m. Saturday, the hours that Booten’s peddler’s truck will be on site.

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“The combination of Mr. Booten’s peddler’s truck and the radio remote should attract a large number of area residents to bring food items to the store,” said Wendy Jenkins, manager of the Proctorville Kroger.

The food drive will be from 1-6 p.m. Friday and from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The theme of the food drive is “Neighbors Helping Neighbors in Our Hometowns,” since all food collected will be distributed in the community.

“We’re asking the public to bring nonperishable food items to the store to help feed the hungry right here in our community,” said Jenkins.

The food will be distributed to the Community Mission Outreach at the Chesapeake Community Center and the RMA food pantry in New Hope Methodist Church in Proctorville.

Both food pantries are sponsored by churches in the eastern end of the County.

“The churches in the community are strong supporters of the food pantries,” said Dr. Ricky Ray, pastor of The Crossing Baptist Church, who is organizing volunteers to staff the food drive.

The food drive is sponsored by the Proctorville Kroger, Ohio University Southern, Proctorville and Ironton, the churches of Proctorville and county commissioner Freddie Hayes Jr., who is providing a box-truck for the drive.

“Feeding the hungry is Kroger’s number one charitable mission, and we are delighted that so many community partners are joining us in the food drive to help our friends and neighbors right here at home,” said Jenkins.