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Clayton County Food Shelf plans Dec. 18 donation drive in conjunction with virtual Holiday Train

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To help raise donations in conjunction with the virtual Holiday Train, the Clayton County Food Shelf has planned an event for Saturday, Dec. 18, from noon to 2 p.m., at the Marquette marina parking lot. People are encouraged to drop off non-perishable food items or monetary donations at that time. (Times-Register file photo)

By Audrey Posten, Times-Register

 

The Canadian Pacific Holiday Train, which typically visits Marquette in early December, bringing its dazzling light display and live music show to a crowd in the marina parking lot, will be virtual again this year.

 

Canadian Pacific Railway will hold a “Holiday Train at Home” concert—viewable at cpr.ca/holidaytrain or on Facebook or YouTube—on Saturday, Dec. 18, at 7 p.m. The company is also encouraging people to support their local food banks. 

 

The Holiday Train event typically serves as one of the biggest donation campaigns for the Clayton County Food Shelf, and, this year, Canadian Pacific has vowed to match all monetary donations up to $9,500.

 

“With them matching it, that means a lot,” said Clayton County Food Shelf Director Utoni Ruff. “Last year, it was also virtual, and people were very generous monetarily.”

 

To help raise donations, the food shelf has planned an event for Saturday, Dec. 18, from noon to 2 p.m., at the Marquette marina parking lot. People are encouraged to drop off non-perishable food items or monetary donations at that time. 

 

Ruff said some of the most needed items include peanut butter, cereal and dry dinners like Hamburger Helper.

 

“It would also be really nice to have some holiday baking supplies, like flour, sugar and vanilla,” she added.

 

According to Ruff, the Clayton County Food Shelf serves an average of 100 families each month, but that number rises during the holidays.

 

“I fed 200 families for Thanksgiving and will do 225 for Christmas,” she said.

 

Support gained through the Holiday Train will help sustain the food shelf after the holidays are over.

 

“Once we’re past Christmas, donations die down,” Ruff said. “This is what I’ll use the rest of the winter and early spring.”

 

If you are unable to make it to the Dec. 18 event but would like to contribute, monetary donations can be mailed to the Clayton County Food Shelf at P.O. Box 48, Saint Olaf, IA 52072. Please write “Holiday Train” in the check memo line.

 

Donations can also be left at the Clayton County Food Shelf at 100 W. Hill St., in Saint Olaf. Hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. 

 

“And people can call any time,” Ruff added. The food shelf number is (563) 783-7794, and Ruff can also be reached at (563) 379-2462.

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