Donations sought during parade food drive
Santa and Mrs. Claus wave to people from their float during the Ocala Christmas Parade in Ocala, Fla. on Saturday, Dec. 11, 2021. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2021.
If you are planning to attend the Ocala Christmas parade on Dec. 9, bring along a canned food item to donate to Interfaith Emergency Services to help stock the food pantry.
“We are going to do a food-drive in conjunction with the Christmas Parade called ‘Cans for Candy.’ We will have our box truck with people walking alongside or behind exchanging pieces of candy for cans of food. Every person who brings a non-perishable food item will get a treat in return,” said Interfaith’s Chief Executive Karla Greenway.
The annual parade is one of the oldest and largest lighted nighttime parades in the nation. This year’s theme is Hometown Christmas. The parade begins at 5:30 p.m. at the McPherson Governmental Complex and travels west on Silver Springs Boulevard to 8th Avenue, where it ends at Tuscawilla Park.
Interfaith Emergency Services helps meet the needs of thousands of people in the community each year, through numerous outreaches that include the food pantry and a family shelter.
To learn more, go to iesmarion.org
For more info about the parade, go to ocalachristmasparade.org
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