Philomath Community Services reached the halfway point Tuesday of a food drive challenge that started March 1 and will continue until March 10.
The organization, which oversees the Philomath Food Bank as one of its five programs, has a goal of bringing in 1,000 cans of food over the 10-day stretch. Walmart Neighborhood Market in Corvallis announced that it would match all food donations up to 1,000 cans.
Walmart already matched 142 canned food items that were donated during the recent “Buffalo Soldiers” film screening.
To donate, drop items off at Philomath Community Services (360 S. Ninth St.), Philomath Public Library (1050 Applegate St.) or Citizens Bank (1224 Main St.).
The most-wanted items include canned meat, fish and vegetables, condiments, canned entrees (spaghetti, corned beef hash, etc.), boxed entrees (Rice-a-Roni, Hamburger Helper, etc.), ready-to-eat soups, jams, jellies and syrups, feminine hygiene products, laundry soap (powdered or pods) and personal-care items (toilet paper, shampoo, toothpaste, soap, disposable razors, etc.).
PCS said it prefers small family-sized items rather than food items in bulk. The food bank cannot distribute perishable food items, institutional sizes, home-canned foods, foods without original labels or previously-opened packages.