20 Years Celebrated With Roof Top Food Drive This Friday

The Sullivan Chamber of Commerce, KTUI Radio/Fidelity, and Sullivan Independent News will kick off the Chamber of Commerce's "Thanksgiving Challenge" on Friday at 7:30 a.m. with the annual Roof Top Food Drive that will celebrate 20 years.

 

The event will be held in downtown Sullivan with John Rice and Shawna Speaks in the grand stand. James Bartle will be atop the Meramec Community Mission roof.

The group is looking to once again top last year's totals of food and cash donations.

 

The Roof Top Food Drive benefits the Meramec Community Mission and provides a boost to the food pantry for the upcoming winter months and the holiday season.

 

"We're looking for another good year with the residents in the local area along with businesses, churches and organizations helping us help others through the Roof Top Food Drive," said Bartle. "We have went through sunny days, cold days, rainy days and even snow days during the very beginning of this event. We remain until the trailer is full of food through actual food donations or funds to purchase enough food to fill the trailer."

 

The Roof Top Food Drive began in November 1997 when Sam Scott, KTUI Radio; former Chamber Director Sandy Strother and Bartle, Sullivan Independent News, were raised onto the roof in downtown Sullivan, some three stories, by Sullivan Electric Department bucket trucks. The group was on the roof that day, Monday, November 3, 1997 from 8 a.m. to after 4 p.m.

 

That particular day saw temperatures drop with wind gusts of 25 MPH, sleet and a rather unpleasant environment from the day before the event. The event began in downtown Sullivan and then moved through the years to a number of locations that included: downtown, Bobber Travel Center, Jerry’s, D&E Accounting, Frick's Market and has been located at Meramec Community Mission roof for the last several years.

 

“Through the years we have observed changes in the Roof Top Food Drive from all three of us being on a roof top to just one of us,” said Bartle. “That really happened due to some of our residents not being able to come on top of a roof and actually be interviewed and speak about the program on KTUI. Thus, we moved the event to the downtown area, where it all began, and John Rice and previous chamber directors have operated the program from the downtown bandstand while I stay on the roof.”

 

Funds that are collected are presented to the mission, which has increased buying power and can stretch each dollar a little farther.

 

"We appreciate all donations from the smallest to the largest and it's always an awesome experience to see area businesses, organization and residents come out to bring food and monetary donations to the grandstand," said Bartle. "We also appreciate the Sullivan Fire Department for their efforts to load the food as it is dropped off on Friday morning. They've always provided assistance for this and help get me on the roof Friday morning."

 

If you would like more information on the food drive or the "Thanksgiving Challenge," please contact Sullivan Chamber of Commerce at 573-468-3314.