For the past 116 years, Water Street Mission (WSM), located at 210 S. Prince St., Lancaster, has provided men, women, and children experiencing homelessness in Lancaster County with access to medical, dental, behavioral health, spiritual, and career support. As a religious organization, one of the goals of WSM is to give people a sense of hope and healing so they can find restoration with God.

On Monday, Nov. 1, WSM will launch its annual Rescue Mission Food Drive (RMFD) with the goal of collecting over 70,000 pounds of nonperishable food - which would weigh roughly the same as 24 cars - by Sunday, Dec. 19. Proceeds from RMFD will go in two directions: providing meals for men, women, and children experiencing homelessness and also supporting the Outreach Center, a food distribution center for neighbors of WSM. The Outreach Center provides grocery assistance to over 2,000 individuals and families, sharing roughly 646,000 pounds of groceries with the community each year.

According to Dan Siewart, vice president of community ministries and outreach, WSM serves food to about 300 families every week. Therefore, the food collected during RMFD is instrumental in meeting the needs of the community, especially as the winter season nears. This winter, WSM estimates it will serve nearly 45,000 meals in its dining hall for men, women, and children experiencing homelessness. Over the colder months, WSM sees an increase in intakes as guests seek to escape the elements.

"We appreciate people in the community who have partnered with us through this food drive," said Siewart. "We really feel blessed and supported. Every year, people take part in this, so they're helping us in more ways than one. It lifts our spirits when we see people respond."

Some of the suggested donation items include boxed cereal, canned fruit, canned meats, canned vegetables, condiments, pasta, rice, mac and cheese, and more. Items in glass containers are strongly discouraged. Donations can be dropped off at Sharp Shopper, Boscov's, Community Aid, and any Sheetz, Weis Markets, and AAA Central Penn location in Lancaster County. Donations can also be dropped off at WSM's dock on Mondays through Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Anyone looking to participate or learn more about the event and food items needed can visit http://rescuemissionfooddrive.org. To learn more about WSM, visit http://www.WSM.org.

Individuals who need support may dial 211 to be referred to programs for which they qualify.