Arnold Air Force Base -- The Arnold Air Force Base Junior Force Council kicked off their annual food drive on Oct. 21 to collect donations as part of its Thanksgiving Basket Program.
The drive will run from Oct. 21 through Nov. 15. Collection boxes will be placed in the lobbies of several buildings across base. Donations can also be made with any of the JFC officers during the drive.
According to McKenzie Gothard, JFC president, the group is aiming for a successful drive.
“We are hoping to collect enough baskets to meet the needs of the community and AEDC personnel,” Gothard said.
The drive will benefit the Deerfield Elementary School Backpack Program and AEDC team members. For the drive, the council is asking that the following items be donated to allow for a full Thanksgiving meal per each basket:
• 1 jar of peanut butter
• 1 box of tea bags or instant drink mix
• 5 cans of vegetables
• 2 cans of fruit
• 1 large box of all-purpose baking mix
• 1 box cornbread mix
• 1 box of stuffing
• 1 gravy (can or packet)
• 1 bottle cooking oil or canned cooking spray
• 1 large box of instant potatoes
• 2 boxes macaroni and cheese
• 1 brownie or cookie mix
• 1 bag of sugar, 2lbs
Goddard also added that a donation of a storage bin or laundry basket is being requested in order to place the donated items. The JFC will contribute a gift card to the purchase of an entrée for each bin or basket collected.
Deerfield Elementary’s Backpack Program is a local charity that provides food to students who may not have provisions during tough economic times. Through this program, children in need receive a backpack with enough food to feed them through each weekend during the school year. As an extension of the Backpack Program, the Thanksgiving Food Basket Program is meant to provide enough food to help a family prepare a Thanksgiving meal.
Disclaimer: The Junior Force Council is a private organization which is not part of the Department of Defense or any of its components and has no governmental status.