District Food Drive Drop Off to be Held Wednesday

Peanut butter, diapers and toothpaste are among the items needed for a drive sponsored by the Central Bucks School District.

Winter weather on Tuesday forced the cancellation of one drop off period, so the only remaining chance to participate is Wednesday. 

From 3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., volunteers will accept donations of non-perishable food and toiletries at the school district’s transportation center on Rt. 313.

The district organized the food drive for towns in New Jersey devastated by Hurricane Sandy. The physical devastation was just the beginning, said organizers. Many people still are unable to work because of the aftermath of the storm.

That makes a steady stream of donations even more important.

Central Bucks' effort was kickstarted by Sherry Cox, a guidance counselor at Barclay Elementary, said Dale Scafuro, the district's director of student services.

Sherry's husband Bob, who owns a moving company, donated the services of his vans and drivers for cleanup after Hurricane Katrina, Scafuro said. After Hurricane Sandy, Sherry contacted an agency in south Jersey that coordinates donations to several food pantries.

Bob Cox again will supply a moving van and driver to take the district's donations to New Jersey on Thursday.

The agency said this was a good week to donate, because donations typically drop off after Thanksgiving again before rising closer to Christmas.

The school district announced the drive in schools, on its website, and by email blast, Scafuro said.

The devastation at the Jersey shore has touched people in Bucks County, she said.

“Most of us go there on vacation, and there are people who own summer homes there,” Scafuro said. “But when we go to the shore, I don’t think we see that there are people there who are pretty needy, living day to day, as it is. When something like this happens, it can really devastate them.”