Food drive begins Thursday

The New Bern Fire and Rescue Department will be collecting non-perishable food at all the Food Lion supermarkets in New Bern and Bridgeton starting Thursday.

Food will also be collected at all fire stations in the city. Collection time is 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

For those who prefer to give money, checks may be written to Piggy Wiggly, c/o New Bern Fire and Rescue Food Drive. Lt. Richard Weems, of the New Bern Fire and Rescue Department, said the money would be used to buy food at Piggly Wiggly for a list of needs from the Salvation Army.

Firefighters will be at the New Bern Christmas parade Dec. 5 to collect food along the parade route.

A drive-through food collection will be at the main fire station at 1401 Neuse Blvd. from 3 to 5 p.m. on Dec. 19.

Weems said the firefighters will be ringing bells at the Salvation Army kettle during the holiday season. Last year, firefighters collected $8,048 during the kettle drive, and the food drive collected 14,650 pounds of food.