Donna Hurley, National Honor Society (NHS) adviser at Dayspring Christian Academy (DCA), is excited to encourage local residents to take part in the food drive the Mountville Lions Club is holding in cooperation with DCA's NHS chapter and the DCA student government. "Bring a lot (of food)," encouraged Hurley, who noted she would like to see the collection truck filled. "We really want to bless the Columbia Food Bank." The Lions have secured real estate agent Craig Hartranft's moving truck for the drive.

On Tuesday, Dec. 7, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., a truck will be located in the parking lot at Mountville Church of the Brethren, 60 Clay St., Mountville, across from DCA. A member of the Mountville Lions Club and representatives of NHS and the student government will be present at the truck to accept items for the Columbia Food Bank, a nonprofit entity working to eliminate food insecurity, located at 340 Locust Street, Columbia. "If (donors) need help to unload, we will have people there to help with that," said Hurley.

Foods that will be accepted include unexpired nonperishables, such as peanut butter, canned meat, canned vegetables, cereal, and spaghetti sauce.

Lions Club member Jeff Weinman said that the idea was to bring together schools, churches, and other area organizations in a united effort. "We were hoping to see more community involvement in Mountville," said Weinman, who noted that the Lions collect items for the food bank at their monthly meetings. He added the Lions have partnered with the Mountville VFW Reese Hall Post 8757 to collect food for the upcoming drive. "(The Columbia Food Bank) has been serving Mountville for 30 years," said Weinman, who said he believes the Lions have held the food drive for about two decades and that the group is excited to be partnering with DCA this year. The Mountville Lions will celebrate 75 years of service in 2022.

DCA senior and NHS president Elisabeth Self said that members of the organization were excited to get involved with the drive. "This is a great way to serve the community," she said.

DCA junior and student government president Caroline Hostetter said that when she discussed the drive with the class officers, they responded positively. "We decided it was an amazing idea and a great cause," she said. "Everyone seemed intrigued. This is a neat way for us to branch out and contribute to the community."

To encourage all DCA students to take part, organizers have offered an incentive to classes to bring food items to the school on Monday, Dec. 6 and Dec. 7. "If your class brings an average of four items per person for food drive, (all the class members) are eligible for a dress-down day the following Friday," said Hostetter.

Hurley said that students plan to distribute flyers and contact churches in the Mountville area to encourage residents to take part in the food drive.

The Mountville Lions Club food drive has been an annual tradition in the area for several years, but it was not held in 2020. Both the Lions and DCA hope that this year's drive will be a resounding success.