Food Bank collecting items

The Food Bank of Eastern New Mexico is asking Clovis residents to leave out more than their trash today.

Volunteer drivers will cover Clovis looking for bags of non-perishable food by mailboxes and curbs, for the food bank’s third annual holiday canned food drive, according to Food Bank director Nancy Taylor.

Collecting food is a two-person job, according to Donna Milinat of the Desert Cruzers, one of several Clovis organizations taking part in the event.

“One person drives while the other keeps an eye out and picks up the food,” said Milinat, in her third year as a volunteer.

Lions Club Secretary Aileen Eastwood said in the first two years of driving for the cause the only slow-down has been weather.

“It snowed last year and many of the bags were white and camouflaged, so we had to go back along our routes to pick up bags we missed,” Eastwood said.

Anyone can volunteer to drive or donate non-perishable food, Taylor said.

Drivers will meet at 9 a.m. Saturday at Java Loft (in the Master’s Center) for pick-up area assignments, the release said.

Clovis residents are encouraged to leave out canned foods, in plain sight from the road Saturday morning and early afternoon, Taylor said.

The public may also drop food donations off at the food bank truck in the Java Loft parking lot through early afternoon hours. If donations are missed by drivers, call 693-0090, and they will be collected, the release said.