When Barb Shufran of the Friendship Table received a call from Glenn Boser of Boser’s Beers a few days ago, she had no idea of the plan he was about to offer.
Boser proposed to conduct a holiday food drive at his 557 South Ave. business in Bradford this week to benefit the Friendship Table, which provides free hot meals and fellowship to residents of the community. An added attraction for the nonperishable food collection will occur Friday when people who drop off food at Boser’s will receive a free sample of Straub beer.
Shufran, president of the Friendship Table, said she was thrilled to hear about the collection as the soup kitchen doesn’t receive any state or federal funding and relies solely on donations from the community.
“I was elated when I found out they picked us,” Shufran said. “We serve 115 to 120 people every day of the week so anything we get from the community is certainly appreciated.”
Shufran said the Friendship Table can use all types of canned vegetables during the collection, including tomato-based items for chili and spaghetti sauce, as well as all types of pasta, canned vegetables, canned fruit, soup, boxed items, condiments, peanut butter, coffee and dry creamer, to name a few. Also needed are paper products such as napkins, paper towels and toilet paper. The facility can also use nonperishable items such as cereal as it now serves breakfast.
“We take everything and use everything,” Shufran commented.
Boser said he and his staff wanted to help the Friendship Table as a way to give back to the community.
“We decided to give back because we’ve had such wonderful support from everybody at the new store,” Boser said. “I went down and visited (the Friendship Table) and it was really well done. Barb Shufran told me they fed 35,000 people last year and that really impressed me.
“They don’t ask any questions and anyone is welcome to come in and eat,” he added.
Boser said those statistics and the Friendship Table’s need for continued help also inspired him to conduct the collection.
He said the drive, which will be conducted through the end of the week at his business, will hopefully accrue a good supply of food. The items can be dropped off at the business from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. through Thursday and from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday.
During the Friday drop-offs, all individuals 21 and older donating nonperishable food between noon and 4 p.m. will be welcome to try a free sampling of Straub beer provided by Glenwood Beer Distributors.
The food supplies will be taken to the Friendship Table sometime after the collection is completed, Boser said.
More information on the food drive can be found on Boser’s Beers Facebook account.
On another note, Shufran said Christmas dinner at the Friendship Table will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. Friday and be sponsored by the local Verizon business. The company will provide pizza and chicken wings to participants and the event will include entertainment.
“We wanted it to be a more festive type of party,” Shufran said.
