St. Cloud Opens Hearts, Cupboards For Annual Pack the Porch Food Drive [VIDEO]

ST. CLOUD --  St. Cloud residents opened their hearts and cupboards today (Friday) to support the Pack the Porch Food Drive.

March is National Food Share Month and food shelves around the country are asking for donations to help those in need.

Throughout the morning and early afternoon people in the community dropped off bags of food and money to show their support.

Catholic Charities Communications Coordinator Trina Dietz says this is one of the largest food drives they do.

"It's really important that these types of food drives go on, not only to bring in food and funds but to also raise awareness," says Dietz.

This is the fifth year of the "Pack the Porch" food drive at Pioneer Place. Owner Dan Barth says each year the food drive continues to grow.

"We were so thankful this year that we had a 10,000 pound match from Coborn's so that kind of set our goal," says Barth.

Dietz says it's not just the food that can make a difference, cash donations can also go a long way.

"Cash donations actually really help stretch what we can give to people. One dollar can buy us about nine-dollars worth of groceries," says Dietz.

Both Catholic Charities and Pioneer Place are so thankful for everyone who donated to their cause.

Barth says it's responses like this that make him proud to be apart of the St. Cloud community.

"This community understand community. We stick together and get stuff done and I'm so proud we can do our little part," says Barth.

The Pack the Porch food drive collected nearly 3,500 pounds of food and raised over $13,000. They will also receive 10,000 pounds of food donated by Coborns.