Due to FarmHouse Fraternity’s efforts over Veishea weekend, some needy people in Iowa will not go hungry.

During its second-annual Feed the Needy Food Drive on Saturday, members of the fraternity will drive a lumber truck in the Veishea parade as well as accept donations.

“Some guys will be pushing shopping carts during the parade. All the food collected will be put in the truck and then donated to Mid-Iowa Community Action (MICA), an organization that serves food to the needy,” said Brent Uitermarkt, sophomore in business and member of FarmHouse said.

People who would like to donate but are unable attend the parade can drop off their items at FarmHouse Fraternity, 311 Ash Ave., until Friday.

Uitermarkt said members filled an 18-by-8 ft. truck with food last year, and they hope to meet the same goal this year.

Collegiate Methodist Church, Sawyer Elementary and a number of FarmHouse’s Veishea sponsors also are participating in the food drive. In addition, some of the fraternity’s money budgeted for Veishea is allotted for the food drive.

“We aren’t sure yet how much food has been collected by the other groups yet, but whatever it is will be a big help,” Uitermarkt said.

Kevin Nelson, food pantry coordinator for MICA, said food donations from the fund-raiser are a big help to the organization.

“We run on strictly donation, so the food that they donate to us keeps us going for quite awhile,” he said.

Nelson said he was excited that FarmHouse contacted the organization again this year. He estimated that last year’s donations totaled around 4,000 pounds of food.

“We are very grateful for anything we can get,” Nelson said.

Items that are welcomed by MICA include, but are not limited to, canned fruit and soups, macaroni and cheese, peanut butter, paper products, cereal, tuna, cake mixes and condiments.

Nelson said the fraternity will accept cash donations as well.

“We are no longer able to purchase meat, so the cash donations are appreciated as well. We usually go through about $1,000 worth of meat gift certificates a month,” Nelson said.