With the rising cost of food, it is becoming more difficult for many local families to put food on their tables.
Warsaw Community Public Library, 310 E. Main St., is holding a food drive to collect food for Combined Community Services. The food drive will kick off June 20 during a book sale and the library's annual summer reading program.This is the first year the library is holding a food drive during its summer reading program.
Peggi Lisenbee-Wright, CCS director of client assistance, said the organization is pleased the library is holding a food drive.
"It now is summer and school is out when children look for kid-friendly foods," Lisenbee-Wright said. "The library deciding to hold a food drive is an answer to our prayers."
Non-perishable items needed at CCS are peanut butter and jelly, cereal, pop tarts and pancake mixes.
WCPL Director Ann Zydek said the library has held a food drive in the past to collect food for troops, but not during the summer reading program.
Zydek said the summer reading program draws about 1,200 readers each summer.
"Our busiest months at the library are in June and July, and we thought the library would be a good collection site for non-perishable food to be collected for CCS," Zydek said.
Kathy Stutzman, WCPL community relations assistant, said the food collected could go to people donors know.
"Our summer reading program is all about community, and the food drive is a way to help the community," Stutzman said.
The food drive kicks off during a book sale June 20 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the library. People who bring in a non-perishable food item will get a free book or video. There will be a limit of three free items people can receive when they bring in non-perishable items.
"The books come from donations from the community and are older books the library does not have room for," Zydek said.
"Every once in awhile we like to have a book sale to make room for new books to keep our collection up to date."
The food drive will continue from June 23-27 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the library. A drop-off box will be in the library's lobby for people to donate non-perishable items.
Zydek said the library is honored to host a food collection location for CCS.
"As a librarian, I know the importance of the necessity of food for the mind to work, and the food drive is a great way for the community to meet a local need," Zydek said.
