Food delivery program in dire need as Christmas approaches

Even though it’s not yet Halloween, officials with the Clay County Youth Food Delivery program know they’re not where they need to be as Christmas creeps closer and closer.

“We are behind in planning for Christmas Delivery 2021,” said spokesman Terry Barr, noting that the Christmas Delivery is separate from the School Program.

Christmas Delivery 2021 will be on December 18, 2021, with details to follow, with sign-up information for families and an invitation for volunteers in November.

The organization needs to order food for around 900 kids soon for Christmas Delivery 2021.

Barr noted that Christmas Delivery 2020 cost $39,883.64, and as of Oct. 19 a total of $25,000 has been donated so far for Christmas 2021.

“We have been blessed with a $10,000 donation from Duke Energy, $5,000 from CenterPoint Energy and $10,000 from Bowling Green United Methodist Church,” Barr said. “We have received other donations undesignated for spending but always struggle.”

Barr noted that the group has historically kept the amounts separate and ordered food based on the funds that have been donated specifically for Christmas Delivery.

“We know prices have risen this year, but right now we are short $14,883.64 for Christmas 2021 based on Christmas 2020 prices,” she said. “We can go ahead and order food for the kiddos and then chance we will not have money to purchase food for the rest of the School Program 21/22.”

Barr noted that Covid has taken so much from the fundraisers held by friends of the program this past two years.

“Our summer delivery was very costly these past two years,” she said. “The bottom line is that we need around $15,000 for Christmas Delivery 2021.”

The best way to donate is to send checks to the Clay County YMCA (225 E. Kruzan St.), marking in the memo line that the money is for the Christmas food delivery fund.

“As always it is complicated,” Barr said. “We are praying everyone giving what they can, when they can, will get the job done. We are going to step out in faith again and place the order for the food needed for Christmas delivery 2021. Our community has never let the kids down and has always come through.”