When patrons enter Picayune’s Paw Paw’s Campers and Cars Center and view the large red box located near the front doors, they might feel inspired to proclaim, “That’s a good food drive, Paw Paw.”
This is the first time the dealership has sponsored a food drive, general manager Barry Harper said.
“We’ve done Toys for Tots every year,” Harper said. “It’s just unbelievable to me, the number of people in our community that don’t have the means to provide for their families.”
Harper said there has been a steady stream of community members dropping off food. The food drive has been ongoing since Nov. 17.
The food will be donated to the Second Harvest Food Bank in New Orleans, Harper said.
According to the food bank’s website, Second Harvest provides food to 474 partners and programs in 23 parishes in Louisiana.
The last day to drop off a non-perishable food item is Friday, Dec. 19.
Donors may also bring a toy, which will be used to further the efforts of Toys for Tots. The final day to drop off a toy is Christmas Eve.
“This is all a part of Mr. Dub Herring’s belief that we should give and help others that are less fortunate,” Harper said. “There are a lot of people in communities that lose jobs, take lower paying jobs and single parent families. They have a hard time this time of year.”
Paw Paw’s is located at 808 Memorial Blvd. The dealership is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Learn more about Second Harvest Food Bank at www.no-hunger.org.