Area residents have two more days to contribute to The Daily Leader and Bank of Brookhaven Holiday Food Pantry and help make this a record year for the annual drive, now in its 10th year.

To date, $2,420 has been collected for the pantry drive, which serves as a clearinghouse, providing funds to the food pantries of Bethel AME Church, the Greater Hope Foundation, St. Francis of Assisi/St. Vincent DePaul, St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church and Union Hall Baptist Church.

Over the years, the drive has seen a steady increase in community participation and donor dollars. Last year saw $9,200 raised through the program.

“This community has always fulfilled their obligation toward the Holiday Food Pantry and helped provide for the most needy members of our community,” said Otis Raybon, publisher of The Daily Leader.

The Holiday Food Pantry is becoming part of the fabric of Brookhaven and reflects some of the more positive elements of the community, according to Shannon Acker, vice president of Bank of Brookhaven.

“It’s a tradition. I am hopeful it continues for another 20 years at least,” he said.

Monetary donations to the pantry drive can be mailed to The Daily Leader, P.O. Box 551, Brookhaven, MS 39602 or delivered to the newspaper office front desk. Donations to the Holiday Food Pantry will be listed in The Daily Leader as they come in. Anonymous donations will be accepted as well.

Contributions to the Holiday Food Pantry also can be mailed to the bank, given to the bank cashiers or donated through the drive-through windows.

The Holiday Food Pantry drive will conclude at 5 p.m., Friday, Dec. 13, so the funds raised by the community can be disbursed to the participating agencies in time for Christmas.