Food Drive Raises More Than $8,000

The 21st Annual Meramec Community Mission Rooftop Food Drive was held in downtown Sullivan Friday, November 2, with more than $8,000 and 2,400 food items being collected to help the Meramec Community Mission get through the winter season.

The annual event brings the Sullivan Chamber of Commerce Director, Shawna Speaks, KTUI Radio/Fidelity Broadcasting personality John Rice, Mission Director Chris Dace and Sullivan Independent News Publisher/Editor James B. Bartle to the downtown grandstand from 7:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. to fill a 14-foot trailer full of food through donations of food and monetary donations.

While Rice, Speaks, Dace broadcast from the grandstand, Bartle stayed on the roof of the Meramec Community Mission until the trailer was full with food or monetary donations collected would accomplish the trailer being filled.

This year’s event marked the last broadcast for KTUI’s Rice, who has been with the event for 19 of the 21 years. Rice has announced his retirement from the station effective February 2019.

The Sullivan Fire Protection District firefighters were on hand to unload food from vehicles making donations to fill the trailer and help coordinate the event.

The Sullivan Chamber of Commerce posted on its Facebook page Friday afternoon, “The community and businesses really raised the bar Friday at the Rooftop Food Drive. The goal was $5,000 and we surpassed that raising $8,000 and bringing in 2,411 food items. This could not be possible without the generous support of our members of the community! You all did a fantastic job and the Meramec Community Mission “Thanks” each and everyone that came out today.”

Dace, the Mission Director, stated in a Facebook post, “Forever grateful to John Rice, KTUI/Fidelity Broadcasting and James Bartle, Sullivan Independent News, both involved in treating this wonderful food drive 21 years ago. Special thanks to Sullivan Chamber of Commerce in coordinating and assisting in making it a success. Thanks for helping Sullivan generous citizens in making it a success for all these years!”

The 22nd Roof Top Food Drive looks to be held on Friday, November 1, 2019. The event is held each year on the first Friday in November.