Drivers needed to deliver Thanksgiving boxes

The Southeastern Food Bank is looking for volunteers to deliver food to more than 1,000 needy families in West Orange County. Drivers will meet at West Orlando Baptist Church, 1006 E. Crown Point Road, Ocoee, starting at 7 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 23.

Volunteer drivers will be issued maps with the addresses designated to receive the approximately 27 pounds of food, meat, produce and baked goods that will feed a family for three to five days. The boxes and bags are packed to provide a balanced variety of food products, including rice, cereal, sugar, drinks, snacks and pasta, which have been donated by Publix and Kroger supermarkets.

Those wanting to help can contact the SFB by calling (407) 654-7777 or through the online form at southeasternfoodbank.com/events. Volunteers can also deliver even if they have not registered.

For weeks, the volunteers have been sorting and packing at least a semi-trailer load of food to help low-income families have a Thanksgiving meal that might otherwise be financially out of reach.

This is the 31st year for the Food for Families program, which delivers food in West Orange County in the spring and for Thanksgiving and Christmas.