Barrels (and Boxes) to Love food drive to aid Decatur/Morgan County kicks off 

DECATUR – Same passionate request, different location and with a bit of name change.

The 12th annual 2024 Barrels (and Boxes) of Love non-perishable food drive for the Decatur/Morgan County area kicks off today.

Previously, barrels were used as collection containers. This year, boxes will fill that role.

“We are moving away from using the barrels due to limited availability and logistics – but boxes are just fine,” said Joe Holmes of Decatur Utilities, this year’s chairperson.

International Paper has provided boxes that can be picked up at United Way of Morgan County or the Committee on Church Cooperation – both on 1st Avenue in Decatur.  Collected items, or boxes, can be brought to Beltline Church of Christ on Collection Day, March 1 from 8 a.m.-noon. The church is across from Martin’s. Donators should pull around to the gym in the back.

“Participating is easy,” said Holmes. “Just set your collection boxes up in your break room or lobby and encourage employees and customers to bring in non-perishable food items.”

Over the past 11 years, contributors have donated almost 750,000 food items to the annual drive.

Holmes said individual participants are welcome to drop their items by the Decatur Utilities lobby during normal business hours as well.

Collected items help fill food pantries at the Salvation Army of Decatur, the Committee on Church Cooperation as well as cover Spring Break for the backpack feeding programs at Decatur City and Morgan County Schools.

Holmes added that donations of all sizes are welcome and appreciated. (If you are delivering large pallets of items, trucks with lift gates would be greatly appreciated.)

Suggested items include: 

• Peanut Butter
• Canned Meats
• Canned Soups
• Ramen Noodles
• Grits
• Pasta
• Pop-Top Food Items
• Drink Boxes
• Canned Fruit
• Canned Vegetables
• Flour
• Sugar
• Cooking Oil
• No Glass Containers Please!

To volunteer for collection day, contact Quay Lively at the Volunteer Center of Morgan County, (256-355-8628 or [email protected]). For more information regarding the drive, contact Holmes at 256-552-1444 or [email protected].