The Brent Berry Food Drive is once again open for donations at several locations across the area, and James "Bucky" Berry is hopeful for at least $80,000 worth of food donations this year.

"Really, I think we can hit $100,000 worth of food donations this year, but I'll say $80,000 is the goal," Berry said.

He said that amount of food could serve area families for seven to 10 months.

The Berry family was recognized this year by Gov. Glenn Youngkin with the Governor's Volunteerism and Community Service Awards for its service in the community, including donating more than $2 million in food and time to feed those in the community through a long running partnership with the Salvation Army.

Berry Family Food Drive Receives Volunteerism Award From Glenn Youngkin

RICHMOND — On behalf of the Commonwealth and each of its residents, Virginia Governor Glenn …

The food drive, which will be in its 17th year come 2024, officially opened the Friday after Thanksgiving and donations will close at 9 a.m. Jan 5, 2024.

This year, there are three area grocery stores that have donation drop-offs.

Bridgewater Foods, located at 519 N. Main St. in Bridgewater; Walmart, located at 375 S. Main St. in Timberville; and Food Lion located at 14054 Timber Way in Timberville will all be open for donations.

Bridgewater Foods will be open to drop offs this Wednesday until Jan. 5, 2024, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. each day. And the Walmart and Food Lion locations opened the Friday after Thanksgiving and will close Dec. 24, according to Broadway Chief of Police Doug Miller.

The Walmart and Food Lion locations have been coordinated through the Broadway Police Department and town of Broadway, Miller said. This is the fourth year, Miller said, that the town and police department have been heavily involved in the food drive.

All Harrisonburg City Public Schools are currently receiving food donations along with five schools in the county, and the Grottoes Police Department is also accepting donations, Berry said. 

Miller said the Walmart location will have a volunteer helping to collect donations when manpower is available, and the Food Lion location will have a donation box with signs. Miller said that the manpower is currently shared between the Broadway Police Department and the Broadway FFA.

Like Berry, Miller is also hopeful to bring in big donations this year.

"Over the years, we've progressively grown in what we have been able to contribute," Miller said. "We're hoping to raise more than the previous year."

Berry said that, while the food drive benefits the Salvation Army, it is not a Salvation Army event.

"It's a family event," Berry said.

He said, once everything is said and done with the drive this year, the family will have put in about 850 hours of work, this year alone. 

Berry said community support for those in need is close to his heart.

"I was brought up poor and the Salvation Army put toys under my tree and food on my table," he said.

Berry also said he loves it when local businesses help the drive in other ways, like Southern States - Rockingham Petroleum Cooperative providing gas for the family to travel between the donation sites and Bar-B-Q Ranch and The Galley Diner providing food. He said seeing the community reach out to help with the smaller details means a lot.

"The bottom line is," Berry said, "the community is what keeps the food drive going."

The food drive will need volunteers to help Jan. 5, 2024, with loading up and transporting the donations to The Salvation Army Harrisonburg Corps located at 185 Ashby Ave.

Folks can also help out by donating funds to the town of Broadway in order for the police department to purchase donations at the Walmart and Food Lion in Timberville. Miller said people can drop checks off at the town office at 116 Broadway Ave., or they can call the police department at 540-896-1174 to schedule a time to drop a check off.

Needed food items for donation include:

PROTEINS: canned chili, canned stews, soups, canned tuna, chicken, meat or beef, powdered eggs, peanut butter, baked beans, canned nuts

GRAINS: cereal (hot & cold), rice, pasta, oatmeal, pancake mix, flour, dried beans, crackers, mashed potatoes, granola bars

FRUITS: canned fruit/fruit cups, dried fruit (raisins, plums, cranberries), applesauce, 100% juice and juice boxes, jams/jellies

VEGETABLES: canned vegetables, tomato products-spaghetti sauce, etc., V-8 juice

DAIRY PRODUCTS: dry milk, evaporated milk, instant breakfast drinks, canned or boxed pudding

OTHER: sugar, vegetable oil, syrup, honey, salad dressing

BABY PRODUCTS: diapers, wipes, formula, infant cereal, Ensure

HYGIENE ITEMS: feminine products, hand sanitizer, toothbrushes, soap, shaving items