By CAROLINE CARMICHAEL / Staff Writer

Chilton County Emergency Assistance Center is having its 33rd Annual Food Drive Oct. 15 – Nov. 30, benefitting Chilton County families.

CCEAC is collecting non-perishable food items and accepting monetary donations.

“There’s no gift too big, and there’s no gift too small,” CCEAC Executive Director Terry Collier said. He quoted Mother Teresa, “If you can’t feed a hundred people, then feed just one.”

Donors are encouraged to organize food drives at work, school or church to collect as many items as possible.

“It goes to the Emergency Assistance Center out there, and then people come get what they need out there from Emergency Assistance Center,” food drive coordinator and CCEAC board member Donny Finlayson said.

Finlayson, former longtime principal at Clanton Middle School, became involved as a board member for CCEAC when he retired in 2015. He replaced his late father who had served on the board and organized the annual food drive for many years.

“It’s usually very successful,” Finlayson said of the food drive. “The schools are usually the big ones that really help get something going. They usually get one of the clubs/organizations from each school to organize it.”

There is no goal, Finlayson said.

“Just get as much as you can to help. With everybody doing a little bit, it ends up being a lot,” Finlayson said.

Collier said CCEAC is a nonprofit that has been operating almost 35 years. Its thrift store and “self shop” free food pantry aim to not only provide for families in need, but to provide for them in a dignified manner.

By selecting their own items, Collier said, “it gives them empowerment.”

Food donations can be dropped off at CCEAC, located at 502 Enterprise Road in Clanton. Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday to Friday.

Monetary donations can be made by cash or check, and can be mailed to CCEAC, P.O. Box 1305, Clanton, AL 35046.

For more information, call CCEAC at (205) 755-9467.