EIGHT ANNUAL PACK THE PORCHES FOOD DRIVE FRIDAY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Trina Dietz
Communications Coordinator
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of St. Cloud
320.650.1644
trina.dietz@ccstcloud.org

For the eighth time on Friday morning, Dan Barth, co-owner of Pioneer Place Theatre will turn on his Veranda porchlights at 7 a.m. to accept donations of food and cash from his friends, patrons and neighbors for the Pack the Porches Food Drive. The drive benefits Catholic Charities Emergency Services Food Shelf.

Barth will be joined across town by staff at St. Cloud Hyundai and HealthPartners. They’ll collect donations from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. rewarding donors with a free cup of coffee. “You don’t even have to get out of your car,” said Barth.

Coborn’s will be matching all donations to the Pack the Porch Food Drive with up to 10,000 lbs of food.

The community-wide food drive helps Catholic Charities in their efforts to stock the Emergency Services Food Shelf. Steve Pareja, Executive Director of Catholic Charities points out that cash donations actually stretch further than non-perishable foods. “With our buying partners, $1 can buy $3 worth of groceries – a donation of $35 feeds a family of four for a week.”

In addition to accepting donations at their three locations, donations are being accepted online at CCSTCloud.org.

Pareja said, “Pack the Porches is a way for people to come together as a community to make a difference; to thank those who stop by, the businesses provide coffee to go. It’s a really great way to come together.”