Clinton Community Collects Food for The Country Pantry—And More!
The Clinton Area Ministerium is conducting the 9th annual COMMUNITY COLLECTION DAY on Saturday, May 4th, 2025, from 9am-12pm on the Clinton Village Green.
People are asked to bring non-perishable food items or donations for The Country Pantry in Clark Mills to help fill the gap in the upcoming summer for children and families when school is out as the need is greater than ever. People can drive through Clinton’s Park Row by the village green and drop off their items without leaving their vehicles!
In exchange for the donations people can drop off items for recycling:
- ELECTRONICS, such as TVs, DVRs, monitors to be taken by Clinton United Methodist Church volunteers for recycling
- BOOKS & JEWELRY for the Kirkland Town Library and their annual book sale and annual fundraiser
- BOTTLES & CANS for recycling to support the Boynton Pool
- HEARING AIDS & EYEGLASSES for the Lions Club to be cleaned, repaired and distributed to those in need
- USED SOCKS and ORAL CARE PRODUCTS (toothpaste tubes, toothbrushes, dental floss containers) for the Clinton High School LEAP environmental club
In addition, there will be a:
- BAKE SALE with sinfully good treats for sale in front of Stone Church with proceeds going to The Country Pantry
- TRASH PICK-UP around the village by youth volunteers
- LIVE MUSIC in the gazebo by Becky and Aaron Willsey
The event is sponsored by the Clinton Area Ministerium, a group of local pastors who plan and carry out a number of joint ecumenical and community-oriented activities.
In 2016 the Ministerium looked at needs in the community. Mary Zimbler, director of the Country Pantry in Clark Mills, said the need for food is even greater in the summer and suggested a springtime food drive. As an enticement for people to bring food, the Ministerium and their parishes decided to offer up services such as collecting electronics for recycling. Over the years the participants in the event have grown, including having area businesses participate, such as SODEXO food services at LutheranCare, so that it has become a true community collection event.
Scott Leonard, event coordinator and Stone Church pastor, says, “The first year we collected 518 items. Even during the pandemic, we still held the event as the need was even greater. Last year we collected 469 items and almost $2000 cash!” This year the group hopes to raise at least that much as the number of families in need continues to grow.
CONTACT: Scott Leonard, 315-723-7420, srleonard@roadrunner.com, for more information
