By Casey Oliver

Love and Care Ministries and Arrow Dealerships invite the city of Abilene to participate in the ninth annual Mission: Thanksgiving on Friday.

The event, which will take place at Arrow Ford Dealership, is a food drive organized by Love and Care Ministries that gives people in the area the chance to donate food and clothing items to the homeless population of Abilene.

Love and Care Ministries, a nonprofit organization directed by Mark Hewitt, is responsible for “going to the streets of Abilene” to provide food, clothes and other assistance for people in need, according to the Web site.

Last year, volunteers collected 10 trailers of nonperishable foods, blankets, sleeping bags, coats, shoes, socks and personal hygiene items, according to the event Web site. Beyond that, organizers raised more than $93,000 to purchase additional items for distribution.

Students can help by donating money, items or time to the cause, a cause some students support wholeheartedly.

“Holidays always make people realize how much they really have,” said Josh Tumblin, junior theatre major from Nashville, Tenn. “Buying a few cans of food to donate is really nothing at all for most of us; yet it can be a huge deal for someone not as privileged as some students.”

With every $5 donation, Love and Care Ministries is able to make 16 sack lunches, but donations do not have to be monetary. The event Web site lists several other acceptable items, including socks, blankets, clothing, nonperishable food and toys. Students can bring donations to the Arrow Ford Dealership on South 1st Street Friday from 7 a.m.-7p.m.