February is the month that embodies love. Walk into stores right now, and the first thing the eye sees are stuffed animals, pink and white balloons shaped like hearts and boxes of chocolate candy. But instead of cupid shooting the bow at loved ones, this February is an opportunity to give back to the community.

Rob Doll Cadillac, 1016 S. Martin Luther King Blvd., will kick off February with a food drive for the Sumter Area Ministerial Association (SAMA) Food Pantry located on Wild Street. Alesia Snipes Sanders, director of the Pantry, recently had the opportunity to speak to Americus Rotary Club members at one of their weekly meetings. During her address, Sanders explained to the members the problems the Pantry were currently facing — a shortage of canned foods.

“I I wanted to appeal to them about the Pantry and the needs that we are facing now,” she said.

The SAMA Food Pantry grew out of the Calvary Episcopal Church and has been flourishing for the past six years. Under the direction of Sanders and the on-site manager, Minnie Clark, the Pantry distributes food twice monthly —from 10-11 a.m. every second and fourth Tuesdays, usually providing about 500 clients with bagged foods.

However, due to a shortage of supplies, the Pantry has only been able to distribute food once a month.

“We need help right now, and Steve Nelson heard our call,” Sanders said.

Nelson, a member of the Rotary Club and the on-site manager for the Rob Doll Cadillac location in Americus, decided to sponsor the food drive, specifically for SAMA.

“He came to me, told me what he could do and asked me to get the word out,” said Sanders.

Nelson and his employees, throughout February, will station five pickup trucks for anyone to drop off canned meats, vegetables, fruit and juices to stock the Pantry.

“Anyone can participate in this food drive. We are encouraging the entire community to donate. It’s simple; whatever you are supplying, tie it in a plastic bag and place it one of the designated trucks,” said Sanders, adding that it is an ongoing, continual effort.

This food drive will help decrease the financial burden the Pantry is currently facing. Because of the shortage, the Pantry has turned to purchasing what is needed from the Albany Food Bank.

“This Pantry serves a lot of people and families in our community. We see many clients and several of them are the elderly. They are on a fixed income and although what we give is a little supplement ... it’s still extra support for them,” said Sanders.

Sanders encourages everyone to be a sweetheart this February.

“Our flyer says, ‘Can you love? Be a sweetheart, if you can.’ Your generous donation or donated canned goods and non-perishable food items will enable us to purchase and distribute more to families in need in this community. Show some love.”

Donations of non-perishable items, monetary gifts and plastic bags are always welcome. For more information, call Sanders at 924-3674.