While many think to give food or monetary donations during the holiday season, food insecurity is apparent year round, and the Guthrie Center Chamber of Commerce is seeking to address this local need.

The Chamber is hosting its first-ever Summer Food Drive, with donations to be given to the local New Opportunities organization. Chamber President Kristen Crouthamel shares the impetus for the new event, “After the holiday season and they get an influx of food and donations then it starts to taper off and they start running low on supplies, so we thought it would be a good idea for the Chamber to team up with them on that.”

Crouthamel says the items most needed are soup, tuna, peanut butter, fruit juice, canned fruits and vegetables and paper products. Folks can drop off items at the Guthrie Center and Panora Hometown Foods locations, Dollar General in Guthrie Center, Peoples Bank, and the New Opportunities office in City Hall. The drive lasts from now until July 25th, and the Chamber hopes it will be a success for years to come.