The fifth annual Holiday Haul is underway at the Jamestown Cycle Shop, and will continue today from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. P-J photo by Katrina Fuller

An annual food and funding drive is in need of a final push to reach the goal today.

The fifth annual Holiday Haul, which benefits St. Susan Center, is off to a good start, but needs a final donation effort of food, paper and cleaning goods and gift cards or funds to make sure the center is well equipped for the New Year.

The center is in need of donated items such as 100 percent fruit juice, saltine crackers and canned fruit; laundry detergent (All or Era); Dawn dish soap; paper towels and plastic spoons from Sam’s Club; gift cards; men’s gloves; as well as cash and checks payable to St. Susan Center.

Keith Martin, Jamestown Community College athletic director, said he began the event five years ago and continues to do it every year to benefit an organization that in turn helps so many.

“It’s overwhelming because people keep coming back and keep giving,” Martin said. “They give all year long, but to see the same people keep coming back and donating at this time of year to this project is overwhelming.”

While some are concerned due to the weather predicted for today, Martin said he will still be out by the truck waiting to load any donations into the back.

“Hopefully they’ll get through that and come down and see us,” he said. “Every year we have a goal to do a dollar more or a pound more than the year before. But the overall, goal is to get the mission of St. Susan and the knowledge that the need is there (out to the public.)

The temperatures have been frigid in the past few days, Martin said, but spending three days in the elements is nothing compared to what those who are in need have to endure.

Jeff Smith, St. Susan Center executive director, said the event is an important one for the center. Smith said it has been a “fantastic blessing” for the center, as well as those in need.

“Only Keith would stand out here for three days, 13 hours a day in 10 degree weather,” he said. “I think that’s why this event is so successful. Anybody who’s willing to do that is truly a community guy.”

Smith said the center appreciates the support of the community. For those who would prefer not to go out into the cold, he said there are volunteers waiting to unload someone’s trunk or accept a donation right from the car window.

“You don’t even have to get out of the car,” Smith said with a laugh. “Just pop your trunk or roll down a window.”

Dan Keefe of Cummins Engine in Jamestown said he started helping with the event because he is the Falconer Junior Varsity Coach and wanted to give them something to do that would help the community.

“Working at Cummins, we’re very community oriented,” Keefe said. “I thought it would be an ideal project to get the company involved with.”

He said there are 1,600 employees at Cummins and two pallets of food was donated by those employees for the event, as well as $400 worth of gift cards.

“I was just thinking about this last night when I went to a warm house and got to eat whatever I wanted,” Keefe said. “All I can say is if that’s your scenario every night, you should be thankful and grateful, and you should give back to those who don’t have that opportunity.”

The Jamestown Cycle Shop is located at 10 Harrison Street in Jamestown. Sponsors include the Jamestown Cycle Shop, Media One Group, Cummins, Jamestown Awning and Jamestown Mattress.