ELF Food Drive set for Wednesday and Thursday

Havre firefighters are getting ready to take to the streets Wednesday and Thursday as part of their annual Everybody Loves Firefighters Food Drive for the Havre Food Bank.

Havre Firefighters Union Vice President and head ELF Cody McLain said the ELF Drive has been going on for decades and that this year will be his 15th year involved. 

"On Wednesday, firefighters will hit the streets east of Fifth Avenue and Thursday will hit the west side, going door-to-door collecting non-perishable food items for the Havre food bank," McLain said. "We call it ELF Food Drive to get kind of ready for Thanksgiving and Christmas that is quickly approaching."

He added that firefighters and  fire trucks will be with volunteers from the community knocking on doors and collecting food for the food bank during those two nights.

"The purpose of the ELF food drive is to stock up the Havre Food Bank and to make sure nobody is hungry in Havre, especially over the upcoming holiday season," he said, "and to keep everybody in Havre fed for Thanksgiving and Christmas."

McLain said he loves this event for going out in the community and the generosity of the people in Havre. He said that at pretty much every door they knock on people are extra-generous and it's great seeing people step up and do their part.

He said the fire department looks for volunteers who are willing to walk the streets of Havre and will be teamed up with a firefighter and a fire truck or ambulance, he said.

McLain added it would be helpful if people left their food donations just outside their front doors and left their porch light on to indicate a donation is there. He said this would help them move through neighborhoods quickly and increase how many houses they can get to in a night.

People who want to volunteer can call the Havre Fire Department at 265-6511 or stop by at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday and or Thursday at the station at 520 Fourth St. 

"It's a real nice event and hopefully we have some good weather and lots of volunteers to come help us again this year," McLain said. 

People can also drop their food donations at the fire department or at the Havre Food Bank at 453 Seventh Ave. N., during business hours.

If people have questions about specific donations items they can call food bank Manager Samantha Nimmick at 265-2007.