MUSCATINE, Iowa–With Freezing for Food, Muscatine County’s largest food drive, and other holiday drives about five months away, food pantries have started seeing their supplies dwindle. With inflation continuing, many families face food insecurity. Currently, local pantries estimate that 1,724 children countywide experience food insecurity, and most of their families do not receive government food assistance. About half of older adults in the county over 65 struggle to cover all their expenses, requiring them to choose between paying for food, medications, and other necessities if they cannot access a food pantry. To ensure that food pantries stay full and reduce food insecurity throughout the county, the Thanksgiving in July food drive will return July 9 through 14.

Following a lower year for donations, organizers hope to reinvigorate Thanksgiving in July by challenging the community to donate at least 5,000 pounds of food. Several local faith-based organizations will start collecting donations Sunday, July 9. Throughout the week, businesses and nonprofit organizations will have donation boxes to accept items from their employees and customers. On Friday, anyone who has not found a donation box earlier in the week may bring donations to Hy-Vee, which will have a collection point available.

All donations brought in through Thanksgiving in July will go to the Muscatine Center for Social Action, the Salvation Army of Muscatine County, and the Senior Resources food panties. Because each pantry does its best to offer a wide selection of foods for people to choose from, the drive will accept any nonperishable food items. Popular items include canned fruits in light syrup, low-sodium canned vegetables, low-sodium canned soups and stews, unsweetened apple sauce, peanut butter in smaller containers, different types of pasta, and meal shakes (such as Ensure).

Volunteers sorted Thanksgiving in July donations in 2021. File photo courtesy of Crossroads.

Though the drive will start soon, Megan Francis, marketing director, and executive assistant for Vision 2020, also encourages businesses who would like to serve as collection points to contact Hilary Henke, community engagement manager for United Way of Muscatine, by calling 563-279-4237 or emailing her. “Choosing to be a collection location is more than just collecting food, which is important,” she observed. “It is about bringing awareness to the need for food donations during the summer when donations are low, and it is an act of support for those facing food insecurity and the food pantries doing their best to help.”

Because food insecurity remains steady throughout the summer, even when people may not think about it, Francis encourages everyone to pick up one or many items and contribute them to Thanksgiving in July. By doing so, they will help out many residents throughout the county and strengthen the community for months to come. “The Muscatine community is so giving, but sometimes we get busy over the summer with vacations and summer events and forget about the needs around us,” she said. “It means so much to all of us to see the community and local businesses come together to take care of our neighbors.”