A teen that has been helping those in need each year since he was 11 years old invites you to come out Sunday and make a donation.

The Xander Bossone Fill A Truck Food Drive began 7 years ago for his 11th birthday, when this now-teen decided to give up his birthday party and instead collect food to help those less fortunate.

What began as a small food collection in the back of his mom Donna's truck has grown into a town-wide event, with the help of Adam Lowy, founder and executive director of the non-profit Move For Hunger.

(photo from Donna Bossone)
(photo from Donna Bossone)
loading...

When 11-year old Xander contacted Adam to rent a truck, Adam instead donated a 16-foot moving truck and boxes to load the food into. Then the Manasquan Acme agreed to allow Xander to use their lot as his collection site, and the Manasquan Elks lodge donated signs for the event, with Ahern's copy center providing free flyers and signs for the food drive.

In one day that year, Xander collected 5,565 pounds of food for the Food Bank of Monmouth & Ocean Counties (now known as Fulfill.) He filled two 16-foot trucks with food to help those who experience food insecurity in our area.

(Xander and woman making a donation, photo from Donna Bossone)
(Xander and woman making a donation, photo from Donna Bossone)
loading...

Now, as the 2017 food drive is set to begin, Xander is heading into his 8th year of filling the truck. In the past 7 years he has collected over 24,000 pounds of food and hopes this year to break the 30,000-pound mark!

So please come to the Manasquan Acme parking lot (corner of Rt. 71 and Main Street) this Sunday, Dec.10th, between 8 am and 4 pm to say hello and donate if you are able to. He is accepting canned and dry boxed goods, tuna, peanut butter, jelly, pasta, cereal, juice, soup, and any other non-glass items. Cash donations as well as checks made out to Fulfill or Move for Hunger will also be accepted.

Special shout out to Donna Bossone, Xander's mom, for doing all she can to help those in need in our community and teaching her son to do the same.

More From 94.3 The Point