PLATTSBURGH — Fight food insecurity by helping to “Stuff the Strand,” an upcoming food drive from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 13.
The Plattsburgh Noon Kiwanis Club invites community groups in the North Country to bring non-perishable food items to the Strand Center Theatre, located at 25 Brinkerhoff St., Plattsburgh.
Event coordinators are Kiwanis Club, Strand Center for the Arts, JCEO, and Interfaith Food Shelf
“This is our second annual,” Kimberly Davis, Stuff The Strand chair, said.
“Last year’s goal was to put 2 lbs. of food on each of 901 seats at the Strand Theatre. In turn, that food would be dispersed throughout Clinton County via our other partners JCEO as well as the Plattsburgh Interfaith Food Shelf.”
“Our focus is children, so we had a contest based on the amount of points we gave you for each pound of food or whatever you brought to us. There were extra points given for baby food, baby wipes, wipes, diapers, formula because those are things that the Food Shelf generally never have on hand.”
Top prizes will be given for group with most points donated in the following categories: businesses, non- or not-for-profits and child-based groups such as Scouts, 4-H etc.
Last year’s food drive was so successful that the campaign received 3 lbs. per seat.
“So this year, we’re back for our second time, Davis said.
“Our goal is 4 lbs. per seat. Our concern this year though is we had a later start than normal and with all the traffic construction going on will people be as likely to come downtown to drop off the food.”
Food donations can be dropped off at two locations: Edward Jones Financial Advisor, 386 Rt. 3 Plattsburgh; and the Clinton County Treasurer’s Office, 137 Margaret St., 2nd floor, Plattsburgh.
SEAT SPONSORSHIPS
“So new this year, we are offering Seat Sponsorships so that people can donate and we will go and do the shopping for them,” Davis said.
“There is a price ($25) for general seating. There is a price ($50) for balcony seating and a price ($100) for front row orchestra. That’s our hope that that will offset the lack of people coming out.”
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