Food for Families

Gatesville residents will once again have an opportunity to help those in need through the annual Food for Families food drive, which will take place on Friday, Nov. 18, from 6 a.m. until 8 p.m. at the Gatesville Fire Station.

While this year, as in years past, the major goal has been to gather as much food as possible for those in need, this year will include a special tribute to honor Rusty Garrett, who has been a part of every food drive since 1990. Due to health reasons, Garrett will not to be able to attend the event this year. Garrett, who was recently diagnosed with cancer, remains very supportive of the Gatesville community and Food for Families. While Garrett will not physically be present at the event, but he will be there in spirit according to Gatesville Care Center Directors Deral McWhorter and Debbie Blanchard.

Gatesville’s Food for Families began in 1990 when 6, 317 pounds were donated. McWhorter and Blanchard reported that, “It took us seven years to go over 100,000 pounds.” As years progressed, the amounts continued to increase at an amazing rate. As of last year, McWhorter said that the amount of 617,368 pounds was raised. “I do not take it for granted that Gatesville and the surrounding area is home to some of the most generous, sacrificing, deep-hearted people I could imagine,” McWhorter said.

According to the care center directors, the availability of food from the Central Texas Food Bank is very low. “We have been forced to buy the bulk of our food from H-E-B,” McWhorter said.

The continued mission of Food for Families is to help feed people in need in Central Texas. There is a great need for nonperishable food products. Items needed include canned meats such as tuna, chili, stew and chicken, canned vegetables, cereals, baby food, peanut butter, dry beans and rice, along with flour, sugar, cornmeal and pasta.

All donations will go to benefit people in need who live in the Coryell County area, where the donations are made.

The Food for Families program is sponsored by the Longhorn Council of Boy Scouts of America, the H-E-B Grocery Company and area television station KWTX News 10.

“We hope the Gatesville area will rise to the occasion this year. Together we can do this,” according to McWhorter and Blanchard.