Columbia Standard

For the second year in a row, Columbia-Richland firefighters and staff will host the “Firefighters Feeding Families Holiday Food Drive” on Dec. 17.

A press release issued by the Columbia city government said the event will be held at CRFD Headquarters.

According to Columbia-Richland Fire Chief Aubrey D. Jenkins, the public has wholeheartedly supported the initiative.

“It really was incredible to see members of the community step up the way they did in support of this campaign,” Jenkins said in the release. “Each year countless families in our area find themselves needing food to prepare adequate holiday meals. Anything that citizens can provide us to assist the less fortunate will be greatly appreciated.”

The firefighters encourage residents to drop off canned goods and other non-perishable items, including, but not limited to pasta and rice products, soups and stews and nuts and dried fruits.

The donations will then be sorted, bagged and distributed to families struggling with food insecurity during the holiday season, according to the release.

Before bringing their items to the drive, people are urged to check the expiration dates.

Last year, the drive collected thousands of canned goods and non-perishable food items.

CRFD personnel distributed more than 200 bags of groceries two days before last Christmas.

“In the past during the holiday season our firefighters have done a lot of good raising canned goods to help area residents but this year the need was so great we really wanted to do all we could to help as many people as we could,” Jenkins said at the time. “We look forward to doing more with this campaign in the years to come.”

Individuals seeking food assistance can call the department Monday through Friday during regular business hours (8 a.m. until 5 p.m.) at 803-545-3700.