Food baskets being collected; contest offered
By: Jennifer Potash
!["image"]("/local/Z/ZWIRE1091/zwire/images/homefront2005.jpg") |
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on the image to view, print, and fill out the form and attach it securely to the basket |
The Princeton Packet and The Lawrence Ledger will team with HomeFront
this fall to make Thanksgiving special for needy families in Mercer County.
HomeFront, a nonprofit organization based in Lawrence, is offering
its annual Thanksgiving basket drive. Each year, traditional holiday food is distributed
to families in need throughout the county.
The newspapers will assist in the drive by providing drop-off
points for donations. The baskets will be collected through Nov. 14 and delivered
to HomeFront prior to Thanksgiving Day.
A $50 prize will be given to the person who drops off the most
creative basket. Fill
out the form and attach it securely to the basket.
Baskets should include:
Cranberry sauce;
Canned vegetables (peas, string beans, carrots or
corn);
Dry boxed mashed potatoes;
Canned fruit (pears, applesauce, peaches or mixed
fruit);
Fruit juice (cans, bottles or juice boxes);
Stuffing mix;
Muffin, pancake or baking mixes;
Dessert items (cake, pie, pudding, pastries or baking
mix);
Turkey certificate.
HomeFront does not have the capacity to store fresh or frozen
turkeys, but many supermarkets offer certificates that families can redeem for
Thanksgiving turkeys. All donated items must be nonperishable.
Connie Mercer, executive director of HomeFront, encourages would-be
donors to include food items for meals after Thanksgiving.
"Many of our families need to eat the day after (Thanksgiving)
and the next day," she said.
Suggested items are tuna, beef stew, canned or evaporated milk,
dry soup mixes, hot and cold cereal, rice, pasta, tomato sauce, macaroni and cheese,
peanut butter, jelly, and canned beans.
Donations can be dropped at The Packet’s office at 300 Witherspoon
St. in Princeton. For directions, call (609) 924-3244.
Donations also can be dropped at The Ledger’s office in Hopewell.
It is located in the Hopewell Village Square shopping center on Route 518. For
directions, call (609) 466-8650.