Donations of non-perishable food items for needy families are needed again this year in support of Hartselle’s 11th annual Caring Day, a humanitarian project co-sponsored by city employees and Hartselle Beautification Association.
“We were blessed last year with a collection of 11,404 cans of food, the most we’ve ever collected,” said Susan Seibert, project coordinator.   “Plus, we had enough cash contributions to purchase 56 turkeys and two hams.  We’ve been told that the need is even greater this year because more people are out of work. Our goal is to exceed what was done a year ago.”
Individual donations may be made by placing canned goods at least five feet away from recycling containers or next to curbside mailboxes on Caring Day Nov. 5. Or, they may be dropped off at several businesses that have donation bins.
Donation bins are located at the Municipal Building, Hartselle Utilities, Joe Wheeler Electric Membership Corp., Hartselle Enquirer, Ace Auto Body, William Bradford Huie Public Library, Chamber of Commerce, Sparkman Civic Center, HFD stations 1 and 2, Hartselle Police Department and Public Works Department.
The food drive will also have the support of several local churches as well as all five city schools. Volunteers will collect the donations from drop-off stations and transport them to The Caring Place, where they will be sorted.  A portion of the food will be kept and distributed to needy families prior to the Thanksgiving holiday. The remainder will go to food pantries at Hartselle First United Methodist Church, First Church of the Nazarene and Pattillo Street Church of God.