25 Years Celebrated With Roof Top Food Drive Friday

The Sullivan Chamber of Commerce, KTUI Radio and Sullivan Independent News/Missouri Possum Radio will kick off the Chamber of Commerce, "Thanksgiving Challenge," on Friday morning, beginning at 7:30 a.m. with the annual Roof Top Food Drive that will celebrate 25 years.

The event will be held in downtown Sullivan with Sam Scott and Shawna Speaks in the Grandstand, while James Bartle will be atop the Meramec Community Mission Roof.

The group is looking to once again top last year's totals of food and cash donations.

The Roof Top Food Drive benefits the Meramec Community Mission and provides a boost to the food pantry for the upcoming winter months and the holiday season.

"We're looking for another good year with the residents in the local area along with businesses, churches and organizations helping us help others through the Roof Top Food Drive," said James Bartle. "We have went through sunny days, cold days, rainy days and even snow days during the very beginning of this event and we remain until the trailer is full of food through actual food donations or funds to purchase enough food to fill the trailer."

The Roof Top Food Drive began in November 1997 when Sam Scott, KTUI Radio, former Chamber Director Sandy Strother and James Bartle, Sullivan Independent News, were raised onto the roof in downtown Sullivan, some three stories, by Sullivan Electric Department bucket trucks. The group was on the roof that day, Monday, November 3, 1997 from 8 a.m. to after 4 p.m.

That particular day saw temperatures drop with wind gusts of 25 MPH, sleet and a rather unpleasant environment from the day before the event, which saw mild temperatures.

The event began in downtown Sullivan and then moved through the years to a number of locations that included: downtown, Bobber Travel Center, Jerry’s, D&E Accounting, Frick's Market and has been located at Meramec Community Mission Roof for the last several years.

“Through the years we have observed changes in the Roof Top Food Drive from all three of us being on a roof top to just one of us,” said Bartle. “That really happened due to some of our residents not being able to come on top of a roof and actually be interviewed and speak about the program on KTUI,” said Bartle. “Thus we moved the event to the downtown area, where it all began where John Rice and previous chamber directors have operated the program from the downtown bandstand while I stay on the roof. Sam Scott returned following the retirement of Rice from KTUI at end of 2019. This is a special year for us no doubt."

Funds that are collected are presented to the mission which has an increased buying power and can stretch each dollar a little farther.

"We appreciate all donations from the smallest to the largest and it's always an awesome experience to see ares businesses, organization and residents come out to bring food and monetary donations to the Bandstand," said Bartle. "We also appreciate the Sullivan Fire Department for their efforts to load the food as it is dropped off on Friday morning. They've always provided assistance for this and help get me on the roof Friday morning.This year City of Sullivan Electric Department will help get me to the roof due to a leg injury."

If you would like more information on the food drive or the "Thanksgiving Challenge," please contact Sullivan Chamber of Commerce at 573-468-3314.