GROTON, NY (607NewsNow) — The Groton Community Cupboard has launched the “Fill the Pumpkin Campaign”, aimed at collecting non-perishable food items to help local families during the colder months and holiday season. Pumpkins have been placed at various locations along Main Street, including:

  • Village Office
  • Groton Police Station
  • Caspers Diner
  • Walpoles Liquor Store
  • In front of Dollar General

Jean Wannall, who runs the food pantry in Groton, started the program on a whim to help those who are affected by food insecurity, particularly because of the decrease in SNAP benefits due to the federal government’s decision to not send out federal food aid on November 1st.

“We’re always looking for new ways to get food to those who need it. With the delay to SNAP benefits, more people are needing to come in which means our shelves are becoming bare quickly. It’s important to us to look out for those in our community and we have a great group of volunteers who really enjoy doing what they can,” says Wannall.

The pumpkins, barrels that have been painted like jack-o-lanterns and repurposed to hold non-perishable food items, will remain in place until Halloween, and additional receptacles will be available during the Trunk or Treat Give-Away on Halloween evening on Conger Blvd.

Community members are encouraged to participate by dropping off non-perishable food items into the pumpkins. No trash should be placed in the pumpkins.