By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Volunteers from 20 community organizations went door to door in Hays Tuesday night gathering non-perishable foods for the Community Assistance Center.

Hays resident Megan Wilkerson set out a grocery bag of “canned corn, some yummy chicken Alfredo and tuna” on her porch Tuesday evening before leaving for a class.

“I think everybody deserves to eat,” she said.

About an hour later, her donations were collected by youth volunteers from the United Methodist Church.

The annual “Trick or Treat So Others Can Eat” event is organized by the Hays High School DECA club. The students were posted at the Community Assistance Center where they helped unload donations and categorize food for placement on the pantry shelves.

“It’s one of our biggest food drives,” according to Community Assistance Center co-director Theresa Hill. She’s hopeful DECA reaches its goal of 12,000 items, about 300 more than last year. “It would carry us through spring.”

“The shelves have been really bare. Last May’s food drive by the local postal carriers brought in about half of what it usually does. We’ve had to buy a lot of food,” Hill said.

“We serve about 5,500 people a year here, averaging about 150 food orders a month:”

The Community Assistance Center, now in its 30th year, provides food for low-income Ellis County residents, including seniors and college students.

Victoria and Schoenchen also will have food drives this week.

The official collection count will be done at the end of the week

“Anyone whose house is missed, please drop by your donations,” Hill asked.

The Community Assistance Center, 12th and Oak, is open from 7 a.m. to noon weekdays.

High DECA has organized the event since 1985, according to DECA sponsor Shaina Prough.