Knoxville families can now combine holiday generosity with everyday grocery shopping. Beginning Nov. 4 and running through Dec. 31, Food City’s ninth annual Friends & Pets in Need Holiday Food Drive offers shoppers a simple way to support local hunger‑relief organizations and animal shelters.
How the drive works
Participating Food City stores display specially marked bags priced at $15 plus tax. Each bag contains a selection of non‑perishable food items or pet‑food products. Shoppers add a bag to their cart during a regular grocery trip, then place the sealed bag in a collection bin located at the front of the store. All items collected are donated directly to regional hunger‑relief agencies and animal shelters.
Community impact
“Hunger is a serious problem throughout our region, especially during the holidays and colder winter months,” said Steven C. Smith, Food City’s president and CEO. “Food City is proud to host a number of hunger‑relief programs throughout the year, including our Friends & Pets in Need Holiday Food Drive.” Last year’s effort raised more than $424,000 for local charities, and Food City officials hope this year’s campaign will set a new record.
Misty Deskins, senior director of marketing for Food City, added that the program provides an additional avenue for families caring for pets to address food insecurity. “Many households consider their pets part of the family,” Deskins said. “This drive lets them help both their neighbors and their four‑legged companions.”
Getting involved
To participate, shoppers simply purchase a $15 bag at any participating Food City location and drop it in the designated collection bin. The process takes only a moment, yet the cumulative effect can brighten the holidays for dozens of families and animals in need.
Betsi James, special events manager for Food City’s Knoxville division, encourages residents to spread the word. “The more people who know about the drive, the greater the impact we can make together,” she said.
Supporting local charities
The collected food and pet supplies are distributed to a network of hunger‑relief organizations and animal shelters throughout East Tennessee. By keeping the donations local, Food City helps ensure that assistance reaches neighbors who are most vulnerable during the winter season.
For updates on the drive and other Food City‑sponsored events, follow KnoxTNToday on Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn and TikTok, or visit the community calendar on the KnoxTNToday website.
Original reporting: Knox TN Today — read the source article.
