Kiwanis Club strives to fill donation boxes

Last year, the Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key collected a ton of food — literally. The Spring Food Drive generated approximately 1,300 pounds of food for the All Faiths Food Bank. This year, Kiwanians want to make sure the food bank has even more on its shelves.

“This year, our goal is to collect somewhere in the neighborhood of 2,000 pounds,” said Kiwanis member Steve McGee, who is organizing the food drive.

McGee sent an e-mail to condominium association leaders recently asking them to put 24-by-18-and-a-half-inch collection boxes in clubhouses and/or mail rooms to collect unused, nonperishable food items from seasonal residents before they leave town. Pet supplies and cleaning items are also accepted.

Representatives from each community will be given contact information for a Kiwanis member who will be responsible for the collection of donations at their residence. Collection will take place from March 15 through April 16. Pick-up dates for the donations will be March 19, April 2 and April 9.

The Kiwanis Club is asking participating condominiums to respond by March 10. However, McGee will make a final push for participants by speaking at the Federation of Longboat Key Condominium Assocation’s March 20 meeting.

McGee said he is optimistic about this year’s food drive. Two of the largest participants, Beachplace and the Longboat Key Club and Resort, have already signed on.

“A lot of (condominiums) last time felt that the process would be overly cumbersome and difficult to manage,” McGee said. “It turned out to be the opposite.”

For information, contact McGee at [email protected].

Contact Robin Hartill at [email protected].