DOVER, Del.-The Kent County Department of Public Safety is collecting food donations at its 11th annual "Thanksgiving for Everyone" Food Drive in Dover.
The drive took place on Wednesday, November 9th between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. in front of Redner's Warehouse Markets.
According to Feeding America’s 2020 stats Delaware’s overall food insecure population is, 93,900 but Kent County has the highest percentage of that figure, 12.5%. Statewide 1 in 10 people face hunger, and 1 in 7 children facing hunger.
Public Safety officials said the turn out for this years food drive was better than usual.
Some customers who donated had similar reasons for doing so.
"I'm blessed in my life and I have more than enough so why not donate?" said Steven Williams of Dover.
Jennifer Coffin who also lives in Dover said she was "grocery shopping anyway and if people need help I am in the position to help."
Deputy Chief of the Kent County paramedics, James Tinger, said the food drive not only helps those in need but also allows his team to make a difference in a new way.
"Whether you're a nurse, paramedic or doctor everyone has been extremely stressed out over the last few years especially with Covid," said Tinger. "So this is an opportunity for them to kind of do something different than what we are used to doing but still helping the community."
Coffin said she always has the kids in mind when making food donations.
"We are in Capital School District and a lot of kids in that district don't have a lot of food," said Coffin. "If this goes to them and helps their parents out then I want them to have full bellies when they come to school so they can learn."
The paramedics will deliver all of the food donations to the Food Bank of Delaware on Thursday, Nov. 10. The donations will then be distributed to those in need across the state.
Donations help the Food Bank of Delaware provide Thanksgiving meals for Delaware families in need. With that in mind, Public Safety staff seeks to top last year’s collection which was a record-breaking 3,126 lbs. of food.
The following items are needed: canned vegetables, cranberry sauce, evaporated milk, canned pumpkin, canned fruit, juice, corn muffin mix, mashed potatoes, gravy or any other nonperishable item that will ensure a good Thanksgiving meal for a needy family. For a complete list of the foods acceptable for donation, go to www.fbd.org.