Williams News Logo
Grand Canyon News Logo

Trusted local news leader for Williams AZ and the Grand Canyon

Students help fill<br>pantry’s shelves

Thanks in part to a canned food drive orchestrated by Grand Canyon School’s upper elementary student council, shelves of needy families will not be empty this holiday season.

Lisa Boone's carries canned food items into the community church garage.

For two weeks last month, students brought in 562 cans of food. The drive got off to a slow start with 161 cans of food coming in the first week. But in the second week, the students collected another 401 cans of food.

Last year, students collected 318 cans of food.

The fifth-grade class of Shelly Talker brought in the most canned food items — 188 in all. Margaret Gearman’s second- and third-graders brought in 86 cans of food. Kelly Ingols’ third-grade class contributed 77 cans of food.

The food was hauled over to the Grand Canyon Food Pantry, located in the garage of the Grand Canyon Community Church. The food pantry helps local families in need for Thanksgiving and Christmas and runs in conjuction with the community food basket program. The Rev. Ed Purkey delivered food last week to some residences.

Besides the canned food, local bowler Bill Foster donated a turkey to the cause. Foster also donated $22 that he won in his bowling league’s strike pot. The previous week, another bowler, Ken Cantonwine, donated $43 to the assistance fund when he won the strike pot.

Purkey planned to go through all the food items in the garage and categorize them. The Grand Canyon Lions Club and Grand Canyon Baptist Church are active partners in the food pantry effort.

Become involved

Organizers would like to know about local families who may be in need of food over the holiday season.

For families in need or for those who would like to suggest a family in need, or to donate, call one of the following:

o Paul Kinnison, Grand Canyon Baptist Church, 638-2790.

o Ed Purkey, Grand Canyon Community Church, 638-2340.

o Jim Uhlrich, Grand Canyon Lions Club, 638-0533.


Donate Report a Typo Contact