Three area food pantries had a little easier time preparing those Thanksgiving food baskets last week, thanks to the generosity of the Ironton Middle School Kids Care Club.

The club organized a school-wide canned food drive and, in a week-and-a-half, amassed more than 2,000 food items that were then distributed to the food pantries at Central Christian Church, First United Methodist Church and First Baptist Church of Russell, Ky.

David Lilly, ministry assistant at the Russell church, said the donation of food was a welcomed gift at just the right time.

“We were able to fill 118 boxes,” Lilly said. “We had people come from Argillite and South Shore and Grayson. Each year it grows and it seems more people are in need. This helped us meet those needs.”

Kids Care Club Advisor Christie McMaster said the 80-member club has undertaken a food drive each holiday season for the last five or six years.

“I’m really proud of their efforts and that they were able to do so well so quickly,” McMaster said. “They even helped carry the food to the vehicles.”