Salvation Army's holiday drive begins in the east

Drop-off non-perishable items at participating Chick-Fil-A's until December 7th

By: Arthur Mondale | WNCT
Published: November 24, 2009

Late November means it's time for the Salvation Army's Holiday Drive and Eyewitness News 9 has teamed up as a sponsor.
From now until December 7th, participating Chick-Fil-A's in the east will be collecting non-perishable items for the less fortunate.
On Monday it was day one of this year's drive, and collection bins were bare at Chick-Fil-A's in Kinston, Jacksonville, Greenville--and everywhere in between.
"It's representative of where our food pantry is right now--the cupboards are bare,” said Maj. Robin Star of Lenoir County’s Salvation Army.
Maj. Star says this is the first time in his 18-years with the headquarters, that also serves Duplin and Greene Counties, that his pantries have run dry and he says misfortune isn't choosy.
"Anything can happen,” Maj. Star said. “We've seen people that have held a job for 20 or 30 years get laid off...a broken leg, gets them out of work and they're without a paycheck so anything can happen to anybody."
In Onslow County, holiday donations are more steady.
Even with more first time families entering their doors.
But director Star Peele says donations go out as fast as they come in--which is why she's urging people to continue to give generously..
"We're probably serving over a thousand people a month just for food boxes--and then you add financial assistance along with that--that's quite a bit,” Peele said.
While most area directors admit, collecting in 2009 has proved a challenge, they urge donors to remember the rewards and that they too could one day need a similar blessing.

Again, you can drop-off non-perishable items at participating Chick-Fil-A's and a number of other locations. For the complete drop-off listings type in the Keyword: Food Drive.