Harvesters hopes to ‘fill the fridge’ with perishable food this week

Harvesters-The Community Food Network is hoping the metro area community will show big support for its first-ever perishable-food drive.

Today through Friday, the agency, which supplies food to pantries and kitchens that feed the hungry across the metro area, has teamed up with 41 Action News and Price Chopper stores to collect perishable foods such as dairy products, fresh meat, fruit and vegetables.

Perishables are expensive for Harvesters to buy and challenging to store and transport, but important for hungry people in the community. High job loss coupled with the recent drought has made the need even greater.

The “Fill the Fridge” drive is meant to “give the community an easy way to donate healthy and nutritious fresh foods to local families that need them,” said Jody Hanson, a spokeswoman for Price Chopper.

Perishables can be dropped off at refrigerated trucks parked outside the following Price Choppers on these days:

• Today at 2600 Ensign Hill Drive, Platte City

• Tuesday at 1100 S. Missouri 7, Blue Springs

• Wednesday at 15970 S. Mur-Len, Olathe

• Thursday at 501 S. Commercial Drive, Bonner Springs

• Friday at 9717 N. Ash Ave., Kansas City, near Liberty

People can also give by clicking the “Fill the Fridge” link at www.harvesters.org.

Mará Rose Williams, mdwilliams@kcstar.com