Every year, the Girls Scouts put plastic bags on doors in early November with a note inside asking the community to donate food to the Thanksgiving and Christmas baskets put together by the Ministerial Alliance. The last five years, contributions provided by the community has dwindled, but the need for the food has not.

“Girl Scouts used to fill 5-6 tables of canned food for our baskets and this year we only had two,” leader Sam O’Riley said. “We are hoping this last effort at the school will provide enough food for our families in need at Christmas time.”

The Girl Scouts moved the food drive to the classroom this time with a good old-fashioned canned food competition. From November 26-December 7, each class is asked to bring a certain item; however, all food is accepted and appreciated. The classes are asked to donate as follows: preschool – canned fruit; kindergarten – canned corn; first grade – boxed stuffing; second grade – canned peas; third grade – instant potatoes and gravy; fourth grade – cream of mushroom soup; fifth grade – pie filling; and sixth grade – canned green beans. Donations will all go to the Christmas baskets and any leftover will be donated to the food pantry. If you would like to donate and don’t have a child at the Fairfax school, please contact Sam O’Riley at 660-623-0062.