St. Mary’s County Health Department, St. Mary’s County Community Services and military personnel from the Patuxent River Naval Air Station will be joining forces during National Public Health Week to fill the shelves of local food pantries before Hurricane Season arrives. The ‘Stuff-a-Bus’ Food Drive is intended to bring attention to the importance of donating non-perishable food items year round as a means of preparing an emergency food supply for our most vulnerable citizens who could be especially hard hit if a man made or natural disaster should happen in our area.

A health department van will be parked outside the Governmental Center in Leonardtown, from 7:30 - 9:30 a.m. Wed. Apr. 4. The food drive will continue outside the Leonardtown Food Lion from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., with donations going to the St. Paul’s United Methodist Church food pantry, also in Leonardtown. A second bus, provided by St. Mary’s County Transit System (STS) will be parked outside the Giant grocery store in California near Target from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Thurs. Apr. 5 with donations going to St. Mary’s Caring in Lexington Park.

Donations of peanut butter, canned tuna, canned or dried soups, and popular canned vegetables, such as peas, corn, green beans and potatoes are needed. In addition, any other non-perishable food items will be accepted.

Having a year round, well stocked food supply in our community’s food pantries is a good idea for a number of reasons, according to St. Mary’s County Health Department. Generous giving is a hallmark of our citizens, and keeping in mind that pantries are an important source of food during the recovery phase of a disaster gives citizens another reason to donate regularly.

This year’s theme for National Public Health Week is Take the First Step!, and the health department is encouraging all County residents to take the important first step of developing a personal or family preparedness plan that is ready to activate in an emergency. For more information about the Stuff-a-Bus Food Drive, National Public Health Week, or the steps you can take to be prepared for an emergency visit the National Public Health Week Web site at www.nphw.org.