Magnolia nonprofit to host winter food drive

In preparation for the December holidays, nonprofit organization Society of Samaritans is hosting a food drive to collect canned goods and supplies for families in need within the Magnolia ISD area.

"We're one of the only full-time organizations [in Magnolia] that offers food for the needy," SOS Fundraising Coordinator Cynthia Barclay-Elder said. "We also [pay] electric utility bills on Tuesdays and Thursdays, otherwise they'd have to go all the way into Conroe to get help. A lot of people don't have transportation."

The food drive will be held Dec. 5 from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Brookshire Brothers, located at 18535 FM 1488 in Magnolia. Residents are encouraged to donate canned vegetables, such as green beans, corn and potatoes as well as corn bread mix, dressing, canned milk, small turkeys and pie ingredients.

"We always need food throughout the year, especially during the school breaks," Barclay-Elder said. "Kids are home, and a lot of the time it's hard for parents to structure [meals] because they were eating at school for lunch."

Volunteers are needed Dec. 14 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the West Montgomery County Community Center to sort through collected donations and prepare food baskets, she said.

Donated food items and baskets will be distributed Dec. 15 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the community center to residents who signed up with the organization in late November and throughout the past week.

During Thanksgiving, Society of Samaritans provided 337 food baskets for residents in the Magnolia ISD area, Barclay-Elder said. The organization is anticipating to collect additional donated goods to distribute about 375 Christmas food baskets on Dec. 15, she said.

"We'll accept any donations or food we get," Barclay-Elder said. "We have seen a higher need with low-income families. Right now, with it being the Christmas time, we have a lot more people coming in for food."