During the school year, the summer back-pack program assists the children and families of Cass County who may need food assistance on weekends and over the holidays. There are some programs during the summer, but it is known that, with students home for summer vacation, there will be an increased need among families to provide nutritious foods for the children.

The Cass County Democratic Party is sponsoring a Summer Food Drive meant to supplement the summer programs. Chair Sherry Toelle says “We need individually-prepared, non-perishable food items such as puddings, Jello-type products, cereals, pasta meals, canned/packaged tuna and chicken, Ramen noodles, and other foods that, if the parents are gone during the day, children can prepare for themselves.”

Toelle said also, “We will have drop-off sites in most communities throughout the county. The food drive will run for a month, from April 24th to May 24th. Volunteers from the Democratic Party will handle pick-up and delivery of all food donations, which will remain in Cass County.”

Drop–off sites include:

• Anita: City Clerk’s Office; Library
• Atlantic: Fareway; private home @ 10 E. 13th St.; YMCA
• Cumberland: Telephone Company; Library; City Hall; Houghton State Bank
• Griswold: Rolling Hills Bank; Library; City Hall; Telephone Company
• Lewis: Library
• Massena: Library; FNBank; Economy Food Mart

Toelle said “It is our mission as Democrats to offer a hand up, not a hand-out, to our fellow citizens. I want to thank the offices and businesses who are so generously providing the public with drop-off sites in every community. We would not be able to offer this program and other public service programs that we do throughout the year without their help.”