Volunteers packing boxes for Lord?s Cupboard tonight

The old adage that ?Many hands make light work? is certainly proven each year when hundreds of volunteers give of themselves to provide grocery boxes for those in need of assistance.

Tonight at 5:30, many of those volunteers will gather at the Nazarene Family Center at the corner of Briggs Avenue and Sixth Street to fill 469 boxes.

Coordinator of the event Jane McMahon said while it only takes about an hour to fill the boxes, it takes a total of three days of work to make the event happen.

Wednesday about 30 volunteeers readied the boxes, cleaning and stacking them. This morning. Fairfield Hy-Vee Food and Drug Store delivered food purchased by the Lord?s Cupboard at cost, and Barker Company of Keosauqua delivered a truckload of Lord?s Cupboard food obtained from the Iowa Food Pantry, all of which was unloaded, opened and stacked by 35-40 volunteers.

McMahon said, ?This is truly a community effort with businesses, the city, students, church groups and individuals involved.?

She went on to say Fairfield FFA donated fruit, Jeff Abbey of Fairfield Lumber Company donated the use of a forklift, Larry Bentler of Jet Gas donated candy, Creative Edge stored the boxes which were delivered by Harper Brush Works, food was delivered by Hy-Vee and Barker Company, Leon Connelly donated the use and pick-up of three bins for recycled goods and trash, the city provides support and barriers for parking, all of which is appreciated.

Friday morning as those receiving the boxes come to pick them up or for those needing to be delivered, the Fairfield Rotary Club and the Knights of Columbus provide volunteers for that portion of the project.

?We sent 1,100 letters to potential recipients of the boxes,? McMahon said, ?and we had 469 respond. They will be receiving the groceries that are boxed tonight.?