Sandra Oliver

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LUMBERTON — Do you have any non-perishable food that’s been sitting for a long time on a shelf? If so, the Robeson County chapter of the United Way would accept it as a gift to get into the hands of the hungry.

On Friday, the United Way will be accepting food donations as part of its annual Day of Caring, which will be held at Robeson County Church and Community Center. The goal is to collect 30,000 pounds of food. Suggested items include peanut butter, rice, beans and canned fruit, tuna, chicken and spaghetti sauce.

Donations will benefit such local organizations as Sacred Pathways, Lumberton Christian Care Center, BART and the Southeastern Family Violence Center.

“All of the food that is collected we will distribute evenly among the organizations,” said Darlene Jacobs, executive director of the Robeson County Church and Community Center.

Jacobs said that the Day of Caring will help each organization’s “unique” clientele while benefiting the community at large.

“Overall, it will feed those who are in need and who are hungry,” Jacobs said. “It really impacts those families and individuals and the homeless who are struggling with food insecurity.”

Sandra Oliver, executive director of the United Way, said what is collected on Friday will be combined with food gathered in a separate drive by the Postal Service on Saturday.

Food can be dropped off in advance of Friday at the United Way office at 202 N. Chestnut St. in downtown Lumberton or at Lowes Foods in Lumberton, Bo’s Food in Fairmont and Walmart locations in Lumberton, Pembroke and Red Springs.

The local Day of Caring in the past has been a larger event at Lumberton Chevrolet with multiple outreach efforts, but it was scaled back this year because the automobile dealership is undergoing renovations. Friday’s event is part of the nationwide United Way Day of Caring.