Cute Baby Contest will help local food pantry
Mary Margaret Moorhead - Staff Writer

Versailles ALCO manager Bill Morris has announced the 19th Annual Cute Baby Contest with 14 entries so far and more to come, he believes.

Deadline to enter the contest is the last day of October. Babies two years of age and younger are eligible for the contest.

According to the manager, anyone wishing to enter a baby in the contest should bring a 5" by 7" or smaller photo of the child to be displayed at the front of the store.

Customers may vote for any baby by contributing a penny a vote. The child receiving the highest number of votes will be named the 2004 winner and presented a $25 gift card from Duckwall-ALCO.

All money contributed in the "Cute Baby Contest" will be donated to Fishes & Loaves Food Pantry in Osgood. Coinciding with the contest, ALCO is sponsoring a food drive of nonperishable items, which can be donated to Fishes & Loaves.

At present Fishes & Loaves, located in Osgood, can use all the help it can get, says Coordinator Carl Moore.

Food distribution is up 17% over the first nine months of last year, according to Moore, who notes that food donations are down 16% and cash donations down 13% over the same time period.

"Our purchases have gone up over 20% compared to last year," Moore says. "We have had to spend $5,350 more than our cash donations have been. What we purchase averages over $4,800 per month. Our reserves are gone and so is our cash. We have even had to cash a $2,000 CD."

However bleak the picture, there are positive things happening. Just in the past few days Moore picked up 10 cases of food from a food drive sponsored in the elementary schools by the Versailles McDonald's.

Fishes & Loaves serves an area that includes the Jac-Cen-Del and South Ripley school districts.

Concerning the "Cute Baby Contest," Morris said, "This is a charitable promotion that we can all be proud of. Last year chainwide we collected $95,323.34. Over the last 18 years, as a company we have collected over a million dollars, which went back into local communities. Together we are helping those in need, and your efforts do make a difference."

MARY MARGARET MOORHEAD PHOTO

ALCO Manager Bill Morris announces the 19th Annual Cute Baby Contest at the store in Versailles. Photos of the entries are posted at the front of the store with jars available to vote for a favorite. Votes are a penny each, and all proceeds will go to the Fishes & Loaves Food Pantry. Deadline for enterng a baby in the contest is October 31. Containers are also located at the front of the store for donations of non-perishable food items for the pantry.