Submitted photo Members of the Fredonia Board of Trustees and Mayor Douglas Essek pose with organizers of the Feeding Fredonia Challenge during a recent trustees meeting, where a resolution of support for the challenge was approved.

The Fredonia Presbyterian Church’s annual Feeding Fredonia Challenge is Oct. 16-29. For the first time, it will wind down with a festival.

“We’ve been so blown away by this community. When we’ve asked, this community shows up with food and checks in the mail,” said the church’s Rev. Holly Clark-Porter. “Churches, businesses, and individuals rally and somehow we always have full bags by the time we start serving people. So, we want to thank the community with a festival.”

She continued, “There will be pumpkin painting for kids (pumpkin and supplies provided), games, a bounce house, hot drinks, food for purchase, and local musicians. If you’d still like to contribute with your donation, we will be accepting donations at the festival. However, this is a thank you gift to this whole community. All are welcome! Come in your Halloween costume!”

The festival will be Oct. 28 from 1-4 p.m. at the church, located at 219 Central Ave.

As for the food drive itself, the Feeding Fredonia Challenge will distribute collection points at businesses and organizations Oct. 16-17. Clark-Porter said, “Any businesses that have not been contacted but would like to participate may email holly@fredoniapres.org or call 716-679-1501.”

Residents are encouraged to purchase nonperishable items, such as pasta and pasta sauce, canned fruit and vegetables, beans, soup, cereal, peanut butter, canned meats such as tuna and chicken, and other similar items, then donate them at participating Fredonia businesses.

For a full list of participating businesses, check www.fredoniapres.org/events or the church’s Facebook page, facebook.com/FredoniaPres.

The items donated go to the Fredonia Food Pantry.

“We do not proselytize; this work for us isn’t about forcing a religion, rather, this work for us is about showing love,” Clark-Porter said. “We serve and work with people of varying faiths and we honor their beliefs or non-beliefs. We are motivated to feed people and put smiles on faces. We are motivated to be a community who shows up for each other.”

She added, “More than bread, we hope to provide supplemental groceries while giving people dignity and friendships. It is not a transaction — these people are our people. When someone dies, we mourn. When they have a new grandkid, we celebrate! We get to know people and they get to know us. As a pastor, I see it as the kingdom or ‘kin-dom’ of God.”