Jaycee's Christmas Parade to help food pantry

Much like the theme of their annual Christmas parade coming up Dec. 1, the Fulton Jaycee's hope to make a "Miracle on Court Street."

The Jaycee's have added a unique entry fee for floats in the parade this year: 20 pounds of non-perishable food or $20 to convert into food, in order to make a donation for the SERVE, Inc. food pantry.

Barb DeVille of the Jaycee's said that the group hoped to add a philanthropic endeavor such as a food or toy drive to the parade every year, to coincide with the Jaycee's goal of giving back to the community.

"There was a great need," said DeVille. "There's so many families in need of food, and we felt with December being one of the more needy months because it's Christmas time, and we want everyone to have a good Christmas dinner and don't want kids going without food."

The Jaycee's will present a trophy fashioned from food cans to the winning team that donates the most food or money. All of the food collected will be presented on a trailer at the end of the parade. DeVille said the parade usually draws between 90-100 entries, so at 20 pounds of food per entry, she hoped to donate upwards of 2,000 pounds of food.

Spectators who want to donate food items are encouraged to bring them to the parade, where volunteers will collect them along the route and add to the pile.

All non-perishable foods will be accepted, but the following items are a particular priority:

•Peanut butter and jelly

•Macaroni and cheese

•Pasta

•Canned veggies

•Rice

•Dry or canned beans

•Tuna or canned meat

•Soup

•Ramen noodles

•Instant potatoes

•Stove-top stuffing

To help the tornado-stricken people of Dumas and surroundings, donations can be made to the Delta Area Disaster Relief Fund, care of the Delta Area Community Foundation, P.O. Box 894, Dumas, AR, 71639, or through the Arkansas Community Foundation, 700 S. Rock St., Little Rock, AR, 72202.