Food collected in Fairfield during a 1-day Food for Families drive will stay in Fairfield and be used to help feed area residents in need.

The drive is being held Nov. 20 throughout central Texas, and the Fairfield collection site is River of Life Community Food Pantry. On Friday, Nov. 20, River of Life will collect non-perishable items at its 406 E. Commerce Street location from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Food items can include canned meats such as chili, stew, chicken and tuna, canned vegetables, cereals, baby food, peanut butter, dry beans and rice, flour, sugar, corn meal, pasta and sauces.

The central Texas drive is funded by the Army National Guard, Channel 10, HEB, and Boy Scouts of America.

River of Life Community Pantry has been in business for six years, and is open each Tuesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. to take donations. Pantry directors are Roger and Teresa Wilson, and operations manager is Donna Lane.

The organization serves an average of 275 individuals under 60 years of age, and 80 families with some 2,500 pounds of food per month. Persons helped over the age of 60 each month are an average of 285 individuals with some 4,100 pounds of food per month.

The pantry is run by an all-volunteer staff, and monetary donations are used to pay for the cost of food, utilities and phone. Volunteers, food donations and money are always in short supply, and are welcomed by directors.

About 110 boxes of food are delivered every month to seniors, and the group is assisted by a care group from Richland Chambers Lake, mostly senior citizens who go to the pantry once a month and help box up senior deliveries.

The pantry bases its system on Matthew 25:35-40 that says, " . . . for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in . . . Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it for one of the least of these, My brethren, you did it for me."

For more information about the River of Life Community Food Pantry, call 903-389-5734 or 903- 389-5433.