ATHOL – Area residents will have the chance over the next few Sundays to drop off donations of food, socks and money to be distributed to the local Salvation Army, Community Food Bank at Athol High School, and The Worcester Fellowship.

This year marks the fifth holiday season that people are being encouraged to Fill Al’s Truck – more specifically Al Benjamin’s pickup truck. It will be located in the parking lot of Athol Congregational Church from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. every Sunday through Dec. 15.

Benjamin said that the annual effort began during the height of the pandemic.

“COVID was in its prime and we didn’t have church services, and everything was online. We tried to come up with an idea to reach the community – to reach out and help other people,” he said. “So, Bonnie and I would go down with the truck and just kind of hang out and wait for people to drive by and put stuff in the truck. Pastor Candi (Ashenden), at that time, was someone who was also encouraging that. So, the first year we did it was 2020. This is the fifth year.”

Benjamin said three types of contributions are being sought – non-perishable foods, new white socks for the shelter, and monetary donations. He also said local residents who plan to contribute to the Salvation Army Angel Tree can drop off those items at the truck.

For several reasons, Benjamin explained, the number of items collected by the Fill Al’s Truck initiative slowly dropped after an initial uptick.

“The first year we collected 1,043 units of food. The second year, we had 1,400. So, it went up. The third year, it went down,” he said. “We had 966. And last year it went down some more to about 730.”

“It’s explainable in part,” said Al’s wife, Bonnie, “because during COVID we were asking for these things and people didn’t have other ways to get out and contribute.”

“I deliver the proceeds weekly,” Al Benjamin said. “So, we’re not holding onto the stuff for a month. Just look for the green pickup truck.”

Bonnie Benjamin said she and Al were given a list of items that the food banks would like to receive. The list includes cereals, oatmeal, crackers, ramen noodles, macaroni and cheese, SpaghettiOs, juice, drinks, stuffing, yams, cake mix, cooking oil, jelly, canned food items, and cranberry sauce. Donations of personal hygiene products and diapers are also encouraged.

Greg Vine can be reached at gvineadn@gmail.com.