Published: November 12, 2009 08:59 am      

Community support outstanding for food drive

Wow!!

We are only three days into our food drive to benefit the Victory Center’s Great Thanksgiving Banquet and we already are astounded at the community’s response to our request for food.

Mercy Medical Center, Air Control Heating and Air Conditioning and Citizens First Bank have partnered with the Herald to host the food drive in which collected items are brought to participating businesses in specially printed bags that were inserted into Monday’s Clinton Herald and are available at the Herald’s front desk. The sides of the bag include special discounts from sponsors Fareway, Don’s Jewelry, Banner Home Furnishings, Van’s TV and Lectronics Cellular. These discounts can be used when a person brings the bags in with items for the banquet. The food drive continues until Nov. 23.

That’s how it works.

The reason why we are having the food drive is to help the Victory Center Rescue Mission, which provides housing for the homeless and provides them with opportunities to gain faith as well as get back on their feet. The center is preparing for its annual community Thanksgiving dinner it has right before the holiday. This year that dinner will begin at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 25 at the Victory Center’s previous location at 100 Sixth Ave. North, now the home of Faith Center.

Besides offering a meal, the event will offer prizes. Pastor Floyd West, the chaplain for Cordova’s professional racers, will give a 10-minute message. A sing-a-long of gospel songs will also take place. Former Clinton Mayor LaMetta Wynn and Mayor Rodger Holm will hand out the prizes, which include children’s bicycles, two grocery carts full of groceries, a large variety of gift certificates from area restaurants and approximately $1,000 in cash prizes.

This is a huge event to pull off; this year about 60 volunteers will make it happen.

And so are all of the people who are donating items for the dinner through the Herald’s food drive.

We want to thank all of you who have responded so quickly and provide words of encouragement to those considering whether to do so.

All of the efforts, when combined, will give a happy holiday, and hope, to those who find themselves — possibly without any family and friends — celebrating this Thanksgiving at the center.