Brookshire Grocery Co. will kick off its 27th annual Spirit of Christmas Food Drive Nov. 19, in its 157 stores throughout Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas and Mississippi.

Area residents and BGC employees are asked to make donations by placing non-perishable food items in the designated bin located inside each store. Stores assemble bags of food staples that are sold for $5 and are an easy way to donate necessities such as pasta, corn meal, and canned vegetables.

Brookshire’s and Super 1 Foods stores are partnered with local service organizations that sort and distribute the food to needy families in the area. In addition to the public food donations, each family will receive at least one roasting hen donated by BGC. Families are selected by local relief organizations according to need.

“We have always had tremendous community response to the food drive,” said Rick Rayford, president and chief executive officer. “This has grown into one of the largest privately sponsored charitable efforts in the region.”

The food drive began in Tyler, Texas in 1982 when 92 families received assistance. Since the drive’s inception, it has provided more than 3.3 million pounds of food for over 150,000 families.

Published 11/19/08