This year the event will see a special truck that will be collecting donations, along with increased ease of donating. The Holiday Haul event is set to occur on Dec. 18-20. Donations will be accepted from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Dec 18 and 19, and from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Dec. 20. The event will be returning to the same location as past years, the Jamestown Cycle Shop. Cherie Rowland, St. Susan Center executive director, said the organization is looking for any sort of items that can help to provide to guests that require the services of the group. Rowland stated that these items can include juices, canned fruits/vegetables, paper towels, toilet paper, dish soap, laundry detergent, etc.

“All of these items are staple items that help us to operate and to serve our guests that come through the doors every day. And right now we’re on track to have fed 50,000 meals this year,” said Rowland.

Rowland noted that Cummins has also held quite an essential role in the donation initiative. Cummins sent sending the Forever Rising truck to the Jamestown Christmas Parade to collect donations for St. Susan. This is not the only push from Cummins to aid St. Susan’s goal, as the organization kicked off a different initiative to fundraise back on Nov. 1. This initiative sees Cummins matching any donations to St. Susan with a monetary amount that they will give to the United Way. Rowland stated that this partnership with Cummins has occurred for many years, and heavily attributed it to the large number of supporters of St. Susan within the organization. Rowland especially made note of the organizational efforts of Dan Keith. Keith has not only taken over much of the planning for the holiday haul, but is also an employee at Cummin, stated Rowland. This has also inspired numerous other workers to wish to contribute toward the efforts.

“They have a group over there that participates in the holiday haul. Cummins is doing an amazing feat of collecting, and they have been doing this for quite a few years,” said Rowland. “It’s just so exciting to have so many in the community come and find us down at the Jock Shop, and drop food off.”

Rowland noted the many important aspects of this event, not only including increasing awareness but also in addressing the issues. The event brings a sort of spotlight to the fact that there are people in need in the Jamestown area, and that there is an incredibly strong community that is prepared to support in many ways, said Rowland. Rowland stated that the collection goal of the fundraiser is to have enough food to last through April 2026. This will cover the entire first quarter of food for the organization.

Online donations are also accepted in monetary form through the organization’s website. For additional information visit stsusancenter.org/haul/.

A line of cars waiting to donate goods at the Jock Shop.