By Shelby Stewart
Staff Writer
St. Anne Church is hosting their OCEF Thanksgiving food drive again this year, and help is needed from the community to gather and pack all the food.
The food drive will be providing Thanksgiving day dinner to about 200 families in the community who need a bit more help around the holidays, and all donations can be left in the Gathering Area next to the food donation basket at St. Anne Church, 825 Ortonville Road, Ortonville.
“The need continues,” said Karyn Milligan, OCEF pantry coordinator.
Milligan says there are plenty of people who are more in need during the holidays because of the extra financial strain, and OCEF is always willing to help out those families who need a bit more help.
All Thanksgiving donations must be in by noon, Nov. 19, and the boxing will begin at 8 a.m. on the Nov. 20.
The things that OCEF is asking for are: cake mix and frosting, jello/pudding, peanut butter, gravy/broth, macaroni and cheese, candy or snacks, soup, toilet paper, paper towel, cereal, evaporated milk, jelly, pasta/rice, muffin mix, corn, green beans, tuna, stuffing, pumpkin, cranberry sauce, pie crust, canned fruit, assorted vegetables, potatoes and $25 Bueches gift cards so that families can purchase their own turkey and other fresh items.

Milligan, who has been involved with OCEF since 2000, also needs volunteers to help package all the food. About 350 people are needed, and they can volunteer at 248-627-3965 ext. 102 or by emailing ocef@churchofstanne.org. People are needed on Sunday for sorting and Monday for packaging.
“There is something exceedingly special about this community,” said Milligan. “They always come together to help every year.”