While you're out this week picking up some last-minute items for your Thanksgiving feast, you may want to add a few more non-perishable goods to your basket to give to others in need.

Sugar Land is collaborating with local TV station ABC-13 for the annual Share Your Holidays food drive. Canned goods and non-perishable boxed goods are being collected Friday, Dec. 4 from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Sugar Land Community Center, 226 Matlage Way.

All of the food collected will benefit the East Fort Bend Human Needs Ministry to help meet the basic needs of local families in crisis. Many families who have limited resources are turning to food pantries for help and will need additional resources during the holidays.

Items accepted at the food drive include canned goods, beans, dried fruit, flour,
rice, sugar, powdered and canned milk, baby formula and diapers, and other non-perishable food items.

Volunteers will assist city staff to collect the donations in a drive-through style drop-off lane during the event.
Cash donations or checks made payable to the East Fort Bend Human Needs Ministry will also be accepted.

More than 14,000 pounds of food and $600 in financial donations were collected during last year’s food drive.

Last year, more than 33,300 individuals received assistance through East Fort Bend's food pantry, and the value of food distributed in 2008 was more than $506,300.

If you live closer to the Richmond/Rosenberg area, food will also be collected Dec. 4 at Terry High School, FM 2218 at Avenue N.