The North Carolina Baptist Children’s Homes Annual Food Roundup is officially underway, and organizers invite churches and individuals to participate again this year by purchasing food and gift cards to support the drive.

West End Baptist Church, 619 Dabney Dr., is again identified as a collection point for Vance, Granville and Warren counties, according to information from Jerry Parrish.

Volunteers will be on hand at the church between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. to accept donations.

A letter containing details of the food drive, as well as a list of needed items, has been sent to local churches, Parrish said. The food list also will be posted on the group’s Facebook site and on the website for the Baptist Children’s Home. Visit www.bchfamily.org/events and scroll down to Food Roundup.

The list is below as well, or copies also are available for pickup at West End Baptist.

The drive concludes on Monday, Mar. 27, so there’s still plenty of time to drop off donations.

“When children go into the Baptist Children’s Homes, it is obvious they have gone without food, without love and without hope,” Parrish said. “One of the first ways (the) children learn that they are loved is when their cottage parents serve them the regular meals they could not count on before arriving. By filling their plates, you fill their hearts,” he said.