WOODS CROSS — Murdock Chevrolet is working to give back to the community by collecting donations for the Bountiful Community Food Pantry.
A Mayflower Moving Van semitrailer is parked in front of the car dealership in hopes that the community will fill it with 25,000 pounds of food and warm clothing to be donated to the organization that serves families from North Salt Lake to Farmington.
“We are encouraging our employees and the community to bring non-perishable food items, baby needs, such as diapers and wipes, warm clothing, and coats,” said Scott Keeler, Internet manager and assistant to the owner at Murdock Chevrolet.
Keeler added that the clothing can be new or used, if it is in good condition.
The dealership is contributing by offering $10 off a service or parts order when five or more cans of food are donated.
The Mayflower trailer will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Saturday, to allow for donations. The dealership is located at 2375 S. 625 West in Woods Cross.
Keeler hopes that the trailer will be full by Dec. 22 when the contents will be delivered to the food pantry.
The Bountiful Community Food Pantry serves between 600 and 700 families every month, according to its director, Lorna Koci.
“We are really a volunteer run organization. We have over 100 individuals who volunteer on regular shifts. We distribute 2.2 million pounds of food each year on a budget of $170,000,” Koci said.
She said that the pantry distributes approximately 182,000 pounds of food each month.
“Our hope is to fill the Mayflower,” Koci said. “It would make a big dent in helping us.”
The food pantry receives most of its donations through annual food drives performed by the Boy Scouts of America, the U.S. Postal Service letter carriers, and a church food drive, Koci said.
“Any donations throughout the rest of the year are really helpful. These regular donations need to last through the end of March when the Boy Scouts do their food drive,” Koci said.
The pantry is in specific need of seasonal items for Christmas, such as pancake mixes and syrup to provide families with a Christmas breakfast.
Spaghetti sauce, tuna fish, peanut butter, stew, baby wipes and diapers are items that are also in high demand.
Keeler said that this is the first year Murdock Chevrolet has done this fundraiser. He said that the business was looking for a way to provide community service and give back for the holiday season.
“Murdock Chevrolet likes to do something at the end of the year to give back to the community. This is a good opportunity to do that,” Keeler said.
He said that the trailer is still quite empty and hopes that the community will help fill it.
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