By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
A summertime tradition returns starting this week at Regal Theatres in St. Joseph.
For an outstanding 20th year, old films will be brought back to theaters to help benefit Second Harvest during the KJO 105.5 Canned Film Festival at Regal.
Second Harvest Chief Development Officer Michelle Fagerstone says while this isn't the largest food drive for Second Harvest, it is one of the most popular.
"It's one of those that it's a true event versus just a food drive, families get to spend time together and at the same time they get to help families that are food insecure," Fagerstone tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. "It is a great food drive, and we look forward to doing it every year."
Fagerstone says every year the event draws in several people.
"We have busloads of kids from daycares, preschools, that show up during the summertime," Fagerstone says. "It's a nice avenue for people to get out of the heat and come enjoy a movie at a very affordable cost, they can donate a can of food, and it seems like the kids all enjoy the movies that are selected."
Moviegoers can also donate two dollars to Second Harvest if they don't have a can of food. Fagerstone says about 6,500 pounds of food a year have been collected through the program.
Fagerstone says the food drive is not just Second Harvest and Regal Theaters, it's a real community effort.
"We've had Mosaic on board, we've had K-Jo, since the beginning K-Jo has been a partner in this," Fagerstone says.
Fagerstone says they've also had several other local businesses step in and sponsor the drive throughout the 20 years.
"It definitely is a community event and without everybody coming together there's no way we could pull this off," Fagerstone points out.
The Canned Film Festival begins tomorrow, showing Croods: A New Age, at 1pm at Regal. Movies will be shown on Tuesday's and Wednesday's until August 16th.
Times of the movies can be seen on the Second Harvest Facebook page, or by listening to K JO 105.5.
