The Manheim Central Food Pantry will hold a month-long community food drive in partnership with Ford Motor Company and Hondru Ford of Manheim to raise awareness of food insecurity within the community and collect nonperishable food donations for local families and individuals in need.

Community members may donate nonperishable food items at Hondru Ford of Manheim, 350 S. Main St., Manheim, from Mondays to Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., on Fridays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The communitywide goal is to collect 2,500 pounds of food donations by Friday, July 31.

Donations will support the Manheim Central Food Pantry's mission of providing supplemental food assistance to families and individuals residing within the Manheim Central School District.

"We are grateful for the support of Hondru Ford of Manheim as we work together to address a growing need within our community," said committee president Nancy Auker of the Manheim Central Food Pantry. "This partnership not only helps us collect food donations but also brings greater awareness to the challenges many of our neighbors face every day."

In addition to the month-long collection effort, the community is invited to attend two "Help Fuel Our Community. Uniting Neighbors. Feeding Families. Celebrating America." events at Hondru Ford of Manheim. The family-friendly celebrations will take place on Thursday, July 9, from 5 to 8 p.m. and on Saturday, July 25, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The events will include food, prizes, and opportunities to donate food.

"At Hondru Ford, being part of this community means more than simply doing business here. It means investing in the people and organizations that make Manheim such a special place to call home," stated Jason Hondru, dealer principal. "By coming together as a community, we have an opportunity to make a real difference. We hope to not only meet our donation goal but also raise awareness of the important work being done by the food pantry every day. ... Every donation, no matter the size, helps provide hope and support to local families."

For more details, search for "Hondru Ford of Manheim" on social media. Information about the pantry is available by searching for "Manheim Central Food Pantry" on social media.