While it’s more than four months until the start of the traditional holiday season, organizations and businesses in Washington are holding a Thanksgiving in July to collect food for local pantries. The effort is being spearheaded by Chef Ron Hall of Mercy Health Network in Iowa City and United Way. Food drives will be held around Washington throughout the month of July.

Director of Development, Marketing and Communications for United Way of Johnson & Washington Counties Trisha Smith says all donations are appreciated by certain items in particular are needed, “So the top items that are really needed during these food drives are things that are nonperishable and have a longer shelf life. So we’re looking at items like canned fruit, or even canned meat, peanut butter, canned vegetables, you know anything that comes in that canned packaging is very helpful. But something that is often overlooked are things like baby formula, because that is a real need especially if you are having to allocate some budget dollars for food on a child that would get a free lunch or a free breakfast with their school system. And so, making sure no one in the family goes hungry is an important part of it.” She adds, monetary donations are also appreciated and can help leverage more food, as nonprofits are able to buy directly from suppliers and use matching grant funds.

The effort has spread to 11 communities including Washington, Fairfield, Iowa City, Coralville, North Liberty, Bettendorf, Moline, Davenport, Rock Island, Muscatine, and Des Moines. Donations collected stay in their home communities. Keep an eye out for multiple ways to donate this month, including at your Washington Fareway with the KCII Big Red Radio Tuesday afternoon from 2-4 p.m.