Local businesses have partnered to organize a food drive for those in need.
The “Christmas Food Drive for Columbus” will be held today from noon to 4 p.m. in the parking lot of First Financial Bank’s Central Avenue location. First Financial, Johnson’s NextLevel Services and Glover Deweese Law have partnered to organize the drop-off event. All donations will go to Love Chapel.
Jody Johnson, owner and operator of Johnson NextLevel Services, said that the drive will take place rain or shine. People can bring nonperishable foods, as well as hams or turkeys. Gift cards or checks for Love Chapel are also acceptable.
Per the event’s Facebook page, there also will be drivers available to make visits to individuals who want to donate but are not able to make it to the drop-off site.
Johnson said he and Dominic Glover were “kicking the idea around” before Thanksgiving but were too late for that holiday. Instead, they decided to do something right before Christmas, thinking that food pantries might be depleted from the previous holiday.
He said this is a way to help out the community they were born and raised in.
“There’s not only a hunger crisis, food insecurities all over the world; we’ve got it right here in Columbus too,” Johnson said. “So we just wanted to give back.”
He said that while it would be great if they could raise 1,000 to 2,000 pounds of food from the drive, “any amount we get is going to be a blessing.”
Love Chapel Executive Director Kelly Daugherty told the Republic that the food pantry distributed 1,385,000 pounds of food in 2020 — and are on track to finish up 2021 at close to 1.5 million.
“We were like, ‘Man, that’s astounding,’” Johnson said. “But then, in the same breath, we kind of thought, ‘You know what? That’s terrible, though.’ Because there’s that many people in this area that are struggling with food insecurities and hunger issues.”
