Local food pantry Your Place at the Table (YPATT) hosted their annual summer food drive, the pack the crate challenge, from Mother’s Day to Father’s Day which saw a total of 8,000 pounds of food collected.
This particular drive worked like a challenge. Crates popped up at different neighborhoods and businesses around Mullica Hill. Each crate came with instructions that then required people to pack the crate with specific food items. These food items were those centered around the meals of the day; breakfast, lunch and dinner.
People would then have to post a picture on social media with #PACKtheCRATE. The poster would then have to tag YPATT and the next person they wanted to take up the challenge, like a friend or neighbor. Participants could also sign their names and leave messages on the crate. In this year’s case, people posted photos of the crate alongside their kids and pets in some cases.
“60 wooden crates were sent through businesses and neighborhoods around town,” said YPATT Director Kristen Skrobanek. “We started doing this so that way we have enough food available in the pantry for the summer. We knew we would run low in the summer due to a lack of food drives.”
The concept of using a wooden crate, according to Skrobanek, comes from Mullica Hill’s farming roots. To her, the most exciting part of the drive is seeing the community involvement.
On top of residents participating, local organizations also got involved, such as Harrison Soccer Club, and Harrison Township’s website and Facebook page promoted the drive.
“It’s absolutely amazing to see,” she said. “That was our favorite part, seeing everyone’s response. Friends send them to each other and leave messages to others. That’s always exciting to see. When we went to empty them (the crates) out, they’d be packed.”
The packed food would go towards YPATT’s food pantry that can be found at Trinity United Methodist Church. Pick-ups happen twice a month with the next two scheduled for Friday, Aug. 21 from 9:30 to 11 a.m. and Sunday, Aug. 23 from 3 to 4 p.m.
Though the drive is over, donations can still be made at YPATT’s bin at the church. They can also be made through Venmo.
Two crates, as part of YPATT’s pack the crate challenge, sit in front of Trinity UMC with messages from families on them.
