A lot of folks, especially men, would spend a November Sunday afternoon watching ball games or playing sports, but not Thomas S. Heady and his son, Joe Heady.

They organized and participated in a canvassing of our community from 3 to 6 p.m. Nov. 1 to get donations for the Rush County Food Pantry. The second annual canvas carried the theme “We Gather Together - Rush County Food Pantry.”

“We received the blessing to move forward with this initiative from the food pantry board of directors. Don Heller and Barbara Kuhn helped us move forward with our planning,” Tom Heady explained. “We had various volunteers from the board and friends of ours collecting door-to-door.”

“We learned much from this program and hope to have more volunteers next year,” he added. “We do intend to run this again next fall and have some ideas on how to increase the number of collecting volunteers. We look forward to serving in this capacity for the county.”

The Headys saw a need and decided to help however they could and want others to help too.

“We are just volunteers; given the economy, we felt compelled to help collect nonperishable food items door-to-door as another way to help stock the pantry,” Tom remarked. “We were hoping (this) article and the photos about our voluntary efforts would help spur others on to interesting ways to help stock the pantry.”

The duo’s efforts were appreciated by the Rush County Community Assistance board, which includes president Don Heller, Nan Chizmar, Beverly Howell, Barb Kuhn, Phil Mitchell, Linda Percell, Laura Richardson, Mike Smith, Wanda Sowder and Dena Vittorio.

“I wish to thank all the people in Rush County that have been so great in giving food and money for the food pantry. RCCA is so thankful of people like you people in Rush County,” Wanda Sowder, board member, expressed. “The need is great and more so all the time.”

She invited anyone interested in learning more about the pantry to stop in at 109 E. Third Street in downtown Rushville. The pantry is open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

“You are welcome to come and see how we run things. Thanks also to all the people that help us each week in keeping the work going good,” she said.

Jan Voiles can be contacted at jan.voiles@rushvillerepublican.com or at (765) 932-2222 ext. 107. Add a comment to this story at www.rushvillerepublican.com.