Video: Community Food Drive In Pontotoc

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PONTOTOC, Miss.(WCBI)–Pontotoc Middle School is teaming up with with the community to put a dent in food insecurity among the needy. A gigantic collection effort aimed at stocking The Pontotoc Food Pantry, is meeting with a huge measure of success.

Boxes of food items line the hallways at Pontotoc Middle School, students and teachers there are out front, leading the charge having taken on the task of feeding the hungry by collecting canned vegetables, fruits, boxes of mac and cheese and more.

“And then of course yesterday’s total was at 1,744. We’re trying to get 20,000 products so today we need 5,000 products, tomorrow 5,000, and another day 5,000 to meet that goal of 20,000,” said Murray Collum/Teacher-Food Drive Organizer.

“Its very important to our community. To help those in need. Families that may find themselves at the end of the month and unable to get the food needed to provide for their children and their families. They can go to the food pantry and get food for meals,” said Lori Hamill/PMS Teacher.

“Our class collected the most in the school but I collected about 50 cans total,” said Tanner Ellis/PMS Student.

Some of the items gathered will go to benefit clients of the Salvation Army in Tupelo. Pontotoc Food Pantry feeds about 20 families per week. Pantries are usually low in Spring, and when children are out of school for the summer, the need continues. Friendly competition between males and females at the school is working out for good.

“Where if the boys got the most cans then we got to play on the wii all day, and then if the girls got the most cans they got to paint the boys finger nails,” said Tanner Ellis.

Yes the boys lost, the girls got the goods, so that competition turned out beautifully.

“I really enjoyed doing this, its kind of funny against the different competitions and the different class rooms. But I had a really fun time doing it,” said Morgan Gunter/PMS Student.

“Its nothing thats hard. You know communities like Pontotoc, you know when there is a need, they go out and they meet it,” said Murray Collum.

The Piggly Wiggly shopping Center at the corner of Fred Dowdy Avenue and West Oxford is a drop off spot for food products. They have been holding evening worship services at 6 p.m everyday. If it rains,they are inside The Happy Day Cafe.