Pack The Truck Food Drive brings in much needed donations in 2020

SIDNEY, NE — The Pack the Truck Food Drive in Sidney is a giving tradition. Volunteers spent Thursday taking donations of food and other household essentials to help those in need.This year, the event was a partnership between St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Plains West CASA and News Channel Nebraska. All donations go to the St. Patrick’s Church Food Bank.

St. Patrick’s Catholic Church Community Outreach Director Jessica Schumacher says with many people struggling due to COVID-19, the donations are crucial this year.

“It’s been a big struggle this year for a lot of families so it's very important this year that our food pantry is full and we’re ready for the upcoming year,” Schumacher said.

Panhandle residents delivered. People came from Sidney and surrounding communities to help the less fortunate. The Pack the Truck Food Drive became the Packed Trucks Food Drive.

“We are so thankful to live in Sidney and the surrounding areas," Schumacher said. It's such a generous community. It really is. As you can see, the trucks are almost full and we’re just a couple hours into it.”

The pace of donations kept up throughout the food drive. By the end of the day, three truck beds were fully loaded with a fourth partially full.