Food drive feeds a need during the holidays

MILLERTON ­— For more than 20 years the Sunday in the Country Food Drive has provided meals to the hungry on Thanksgiving, and for many of those years on Christmas as well. Goodwill ambassador and food-drive mastermind “NASCAR” Dave MacMillan has helped ensure as many people benefit from the volunteer effort as possible. But it hasn’t been easy, especially when there are so many causes in need of support.“We appreciate all of the support people have given us this year, even though it’s not what it was in the past,” MacMillan said. “But we understand that and hope people continue to give to whatever charity they can because that’s the important part, and they’re all good charities, no matter what the cause is. They’re all good.”The program provides turkeys and dry goods to food banks throughout the Tri-state region, including the towns of Kent, Sharon, Lakeville and North Canaan in Connecticut; Millerton, Amenia, Pine Plains, Dover, Pawling, Ancramdale and Hillsdale in New York; and Sheffield in Massachusetts.This year all of those locations will receive turkeys, but because of budgetary restraints, only Millerton, Pine Plains, Ancramdale and Sharon will receive dry goods for Christmas, though seven pantries received such staples for Thanksgiving.“We didn’t raise as much money as we had in the past,” MacMillan said of the Thanksgiving drive, which he expects will be matched for Christmas. “We still did a really good amount with 539 turkeys. I know it was down; we did maybe 30 to 40 percent of what we did last year.”MacMillan said the need for donations has increased, but not in the expected way.“The need isn’t any greater, it’s just for longer durations,” he said. “People are needing food every single week, and that’s where we changed our focus.”Donations can be sent to the Sunday in the Country Food Drive, PO Box 789, Millerton, NY 12546. “Somebody’s got to make sure the less fortunate get the food they need,” Macmillan said. “There’s nothing worse than going to bed hungry, especially if you’re young. ”