Celebrating Thanksgiving in July

On Friday and Saturday, July 25 and 26, volunteers working with the Johnson County Crisis Center accepted food and monetary donations at local Hy-Vee stores for an annual food drive event dubbed "Thanksgiving in July."

(VISTA Summer Associate Hilary Hott unloads cases of cereal at the Crisis Center warehouse on Saturday, July 26.)

AmeriCorps VISTA volunteers helped staff tables at the area grocery stores and also worked to unload four semis as they arrived with food at the Crisis Center's Gilbert Court warehouse and food bank.

(VISTA Summer Associate Danielle Steger works with yearlong VISTA Nathan Kieso to unload canned goods at the Crisis Center warehouse.)

Due to a combination of problems--including June's massive flooding and a sputtering economy--donations and volunteerism is down at the Crisis Center. The Thanksgiving in July event was, however, an overall success.

Those interested in donating to the Crisis Center are asked to consider giving items of high protein content--items such as peanut butter or canned meats. For more information on how you can donate (or to volunteer at the Crisis Center) call their office at 319-351-0140 or visit their website here.