Click to enlarge CHRIS JENNINGS / HERALD DEMOCRAT Boxes of food are unloaded at the Salvation Army headquarters in Sherman Wednesday morning. The Sherman Texas Instruments plant held a food drive to benefit the Salvation Army.

The Sherman location of Texas Instruments joined in the company wide effort "Day of Caring Food Drive" this past week. Wednesday, TI volunteers delivered more than a dozen 50-pound boxes of non-perishable food to the local Salvation Army.

The goal of the food drive was to make a difference in the lives of those in hunger during this economic downturn. The employees of TI collected non-perishable food items and cash donations and donated those to The Salvation Army of Grayson County's Food Pantry.

Sam Cain, wafer fabrication manager of TI, said he believes the week was a great time to help improve the quality of life in the community, a press release from United Way of Grayson County states. "Addressing the needs in the community is a great opportunity to celebrate the spirit of American volunteerism."

Capt. David Grigsbay, corps officer of the local Salvation Army, writes "every year the Salvation Army depends on area businesses and organizations to assist with food drives to help meet the need because their shelves become empty and the supply is never enough to meet the demand."

"Homeless prevention is one of our goals for all of our clients and when we are able to give away the food to our program it allows those recipients not only to put food on their tables but it also allows them to pay their rent or utilities as a result of the money we helped them save," Grigsbay noted.

Salvation Army's administrative services coordinator said, "Thank you to TI and United Way for supporting a great cause. The food will be distributed to people in the Grayson County area. These families would go without food and now we are able to put a meal on their table."