A local restaurant has presented the Grayson County Food Pantry with a pickup full of canned goods and $724 to help replenish the shelves left empty after the January ice storm that left Grayson County without power.

Farmer’s Feed Mill Restaurant participated in a statewide drive to help collect non-perishable items for the local food pantry by hosting a the Canned Food Derby.

The contests that allowed the day shift customers and servers to compete against the night shift customers and servers in collecting the most cans, non-perishable items and hygiene products. Many donated cash for the pantry that serves needy families in Grayson County.

Restaurant manager Jill Blankenship said the event “was a blast. The servers really got pretty competitive with the contest. At one point I had to seal up the envelope from the day shift so the night shift did not have the edge of knowing what had been collected that day.”

On Tuesday morning Blankenship pulled up to the food pantry and began to unload the pickup truck full of food items that had been collected.

She presented that along with the cash that was donated to allow the director of the food pantry, Donna Wilson to purchase items.

The shelves of the pantry were left bare after local residents sought help following the ice storm.

The restaurant employees got involved in the food drive after Faye Critchelow FRYSC Site Director asked Blankenship for assistance.

Each month the food pantry serves over 800 individuals with food and hygiene products.

"We have a lot of need in the county right now," Critchelow urged. "The greatest need is being able to provide food for your family. These are desperate times that we live in. Any donation to this cause is greatly appreciated."

If anyone wishes to make a donation to the Grayson County Food Pantry, contact Donna Wilson at 270-259-4000 or Faye Critchelow at 270-259-9681.