Sunday in the Country Food Drive needs your help


 


HARLEM VALLEY — Tough economic times are even tougher for nonprofit organizations such as the Sunday in the Country Food Drive, which is why the group is now stepping up its fundraising efforts to include four events before the end of the year.

The food drive provides full turkey dinners to those in need on both Thanksgiving and Christmas through local food pantries.

Recently, food drive organizers "NASCAR" Dave MacMillan and fellow WQQQ radio personalities Thia Tarrab and Randy Christensen spoke with The Millerton News about how the economy is impacting both the area and the food drive.

"We know that there will be a greater need this year," Tarrab said. "We don’t know yet if the donations are in trouble, but we do know there is a greater need."

"I think [the economy] is going to affect everybody," Christensen said. "People are paying a lot for gas and they are paying a lot for oil. We usually [serve] during Thanksgiving and Christmas, but it might get to a point where we won’t be able to afford to do Christmas. But we always panic anyway, don’t we?"

"Yes, we do," MacMillan said. "I wouldn’t say that we’re panicking right now. I do think that we are concerned. We’re concerned about the food costs because they are rising."

MacMillan said he was contacted by an operator of a local food pantry who told him that the pantry’s needs have increased.

"The amount of people to come and visit the pantry are up 20 percent from last year," MacMillan said. "This is why we’re now going to have four fundraising events instead of just the two that we had in the past. Our concern is if we can reach our goal for donations dollar-wise. Also, we are concerned with whether or not we can supply the local food pantries with what we’ve always given them. Our thought this year is to try to at least give everyone the traditional Thanksgiving basket. At Christmas and the rest of the year, we might have to give food pantries nonperishable items, including peanut butter and tuna fish."

MacMillan said that last year, the group raised a record $45,000 for the food drive.

"We’ve given all but $1,500," MacMillan said. "I think we do have a good shot at raising lots of money this year. Our thought process this year is that if we are asking for a $10 donation and they go to one of these events, it might be equitable [because we’re] giving them something in return for their money."

"My opinion is that this food drive stays alive and keeps running on the working-class guy," Tarrab said. "Unfortunately, we now have a lot of working poor that have to draw from the [food pantry] pool. So the need is going to get greater. For everyone who has been doing something [for the drive], there isn’t enough thank yous. But I am sure there are some people that have not been moved to do something. With the need so great, the word has to get out there and maybe the more affluent can donate to the drive. For those who are higher up, it’s time for people to help their neighbors. There are no races, it’s just the human race. If we all take care of each other, we will be fine."

This week, MacMillan announced he will be leaving WQQQ to work at WHDD radio in Sharon. However, in an interview on Tuesday, MacMillan emphasized that there would be no changes whatsoever to the food drive.

"It’s always going to be the Sunday in the Country food drive no matter where I’m working," MacMillan said. "It is a community event. It has nothing to do with radio station X or Y. I would like to thank WQQQ for all their support over the years."

Donations to the drive are now being accepted and can be sent to Sunday in the Country Food Drive, PO Box 789, Millerton, NY 12546.

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Events


HARLEM VALLEY — To help give the Sunday in the Country food drive a running start this year, its first fundraising event will be held Saturday, July 26, at noon at the Amenia Fish and Game Club. The event will be a dance with DJ Jim Devine and will also include a horseshoe tournament and a Texas hold ’em card tournament.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children under 12. Tickets are available at Jack’s Auto, WQQQ FM, Tony’s Barber Shop, WHDD FM and through Kathleen Kelly.

On Saturday, Sept. 6, the group will hold the second annual David Waldron Memorial Poker Run. A poker run is an event where a motorcycle rider travels over a route and collects poker cards at predesignated stops, trying to get the best poker hand.

However, food drive organizer Thia Tarrab said that all forms of transportation, including cars, buses and even bicycles, can participate in the event.

The poker run starts at the Millerton Firehouse on Century Boulevard at 9 a.m. and ends at the Amenia Firehouse on Mechanic Street.

Tickets are $20 per person. For more information, call 845-373-8497 or 845-373-9601.

On Friday, Oct. 17, the group will hold its annual dinner dance at Silo Ridge Country Club from 6 to 11 p.m. The event has been moved from its traditional November date to October this year.

The date for the annual chicken cook-off has also been moved this year. Originally held in early October, the event will be held Saturday, Nov. 1, at American Legion Post 178 in Millerton. Twelve teams will vie for the title of best barbecue chicken in the Harlem Valley.

"NASCAR" Dave MacMillan said this year’s event will not have outside judges. Instead, one member from each team will form a judging committee that will determine the quality of each meal.

For more information on that event, contact MacMillan at 914-475-5918.


— Shaw Israel Izikson

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