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The Grace Martin Harwell Senior Center is doing its part in helping out the community with a food drive for Eagle’s Wings Pantry. The Senior Center has set a goal of 500 pounds of canned goods and other non-perishable food items.

Deb Bauer, the supervisor of the senior center, said this was a good opportunity for senior center members to participate in an activity to help the community.

“We’re collecting the donations for the Eagle’s Wings food pantry, and we’re acting as an area for someone to drop them off,” Bauer said. “We decided to do this an activity during our shutdown — because we’re shut down for the virus — this is something our senior members can do for the community.”

Bauer said it was important to help, because many people are currently going through financial turmoil.

“Well, right now, a lot of folks are underemployed, unemployed, laid off, furloughed and not getting paid. There are some getting paid, but many are not. Plus, some of our seniors can be struggling at this time. Eagle’s Wings serves everybody in our community — not only are they serving seniors, they’re serving anybody that has a need for food. So, we’re just trying to help the community in this time of crisis. It’s our hope that whether they’re not getting paid or they need some food, we can help with that.”

Once the 500-pound goal is reached, organizers will make an assessment of the current situation and decide whether to continue the food drive. However, they could possibly pick it up later in the year as an activity around Thanksgiving or Christmas. The food drive has reeled in about 220 pounds of food so far.

Suggested food items are canned fruits, vegetables, soups and meats, as well as boxed meals, peanut butter, rice, beans, pastas or cereal.

Items can be dropped off at 310 W. Main St. in Washington at the main entrance to the senior center, which is on the side of the building next to the parking lot, according to Bauer.