Collegedale Leaders Combine Summer Sale with Giving Back

Collegdale, TN- (WDEF)In Collegedale, community spirit was on full display Saturday as local leaders and residents came together to fight food insecurity—right in the middle of a summer shopping event.

Commissioner Laura Howse and Vice Mayor Tonya Sadler organized a canned food drive at Shop On Main during the store’s Sizzlin’ Summer Sale. Shoppers were encouraged to bring items like canned tuna, peanut butter, snack packs, and pudding cups—essentials that often run low at local food pantries.

“We really needed more canned food—like tuna and peanut butter, snack packs, pudding, Jell-O, that kind of stuff,” Howse explained. “We thought this would be a good time to do the pantry drive because the Shop On Main is having a big sale. The Vice Mayor also wanted to help promote business and give people a chance to donate and support their neighbors.”

All donations collected went to the Apison Food Pantry, which serves hundreds of families in need across the area. While the drive concluded this afternoon, organizers say the need is ongoing—and every single donation continues to make a difference.