BY ABBY FOX

Grace Dugan of Dugan Custom Jewelers on Main Street will talk to anyone who will listen about the “It Takes a Village” Rhode Island Community Food Bank Drive, running the entire month, until collection day on Saturday, Nov. 29.

“There are plenty of people in East Greenwich and North Kingstown who are recipients of the Food Bank’s generosity,” she said.

People wondering where to drop off their cans and boxes don’t have to look far – about 100 businesses in East Greenwich and North Kingstown are participating, as part of a fun competition between the two towns that started up this year to see who can collect the most goods.

Last year, 37 East Greenwich businesses collected 880 pounds of food; this year, Dugan is excited about beating that record. “We could end up with thousands of pounds of food,” she said.

People who donate ten cans of food earn a raffle ticket, for a shot at some generous prizes, such as a guitar from Main Street Music, a $125 gift certificate from Dugan Custom Jewelers, or a $125 certificate for art lessons at Nancy Stephens Gallery. Blue Hydrangea in Wickford and Charmed in East Greenwich are also participating in the raffle.

Dugan is hoping her altruistic bug will get imbedded in others, and so far the “It Takes a Village” mantra is catching on, with students signing up to help pick up and deliver food and many more businesses participating than last year.

The food bank’s 20 largest food pantries have seen a 12-percent increase in the number of people they’ve served this year over last, according to Lisa Roth Blackman, senior director for development. “And this is all before people have started to pay their heating bills,” she said. “We are concerned this is going to be a very difficult winter.”

Dugan can be reached for questions at 884-6800. She said that people who want to drop off a check made out to RICFB can do that too; that  glass jars are not advisable; and that sorry, pet lovers, this is not a food drive for animals.