E.L.F Drive to run Monday, volunteers sought

The Annual E.L.F - Everybody Loves Firefighters - Food Drive will be running early this year, Monday Oct. 23, with the Havre Fire Department collecting food from porches around Havre.

Firefighters will drive around town between 5:30 and 8:30 p.m. and people are encouraged to leave non-perishable food on their porches or sidewalks with the lights on.

The food will go to the District 4 Human Resources Development Council's Havre Community Food Bank to help those in need.

International Association of Firefighters Local 601 Vice President Cody McLain of the Havre Fire Department said that they are aiming to collect 5,000 pounds of food this year.

McLain said they usually come in well above 4,000 pounds but usually don't make it to 5,000, and they are always looking to get as much as they can.

"With a little help from the community, I think we can make it happen," he said.

He said the fire department will be accepting direct food donations until Oct. 27 at the station, so anyone who's willing can come to them any time next week to drop off donations.

A release from HRDC said they will also be accepting direct food donations during and before the drive and they are also looking for volunteers to help sort food at HRDC.

The annual event, supported by United Way of Hill County, is happening a bit earlier than recent years, and, unlike many previous years, the department is going to be doing it in one evening.

McLain said they've done the drive over the course of two days in previous years, but they want to try to get as much as they can in one this year to minimize disruption and confusion, going around town using their horns as they go.

He said he wanted to thank the community in advance for contributions and for the years of consistent support for the drive.