Stuff the Truck at Paducah Power Today

The annual "Stuff the Truck" event to collect non-perishable foods for four local charities has a couple of changes this year. First of all, it's only on Tuesday, and second, the location has been changed to the Paducah Power System parking lot.

Previously, the event has been held in the parking lots of Mercy Health Lourdes and Baptist Health Paducah, but this year it's a one-day event, and Paducah Power is keeping it closer to home.

Andrea Underwood of Paducah Power said, "What we're hoping you will do is stuff your pickup truck - get your church group or your business friends together, and collect some stuff - stuff your pickup and bring it to us and help us collect for 'Christmas in the Park.'"

The event is from 7 am until 5 pm at Paducah Power System at 1500 Broadway. 

If you're not able to come by Paducah Power System today, you can still bring non-perishable foods to Noble Park. 

Underwood said traffic has been excellent so far for "Christmas in the Park," the weather has cooperated, and they collected over 4,000 pounds of food in the first week. 

The park display is open nightly from 6 to 9 pm, Sunday through Thursday nights and from 6 to 10 pm on Fridays and Saturdays. 

Admission is free, but they are accepting donations of cash and canned goods for four area agencies that help those in need: Paducah Cooperative Ministry, Family Service Society, the Salvation Army and St. Vincent DePaul Society.

Underwood said if you're interested in helping collect the food items in the park, their volunteer schedule is already full, but they start reserving spots for groups on the Tuesday after Labor Day each year. She said their schedule usually fills up within a couple of weeks. 

In addition to Tuesday's "Stuff the Truck," and the ongoing collection at Noble Park, area schools are also involved in their annual "School Challenge," where they compete to see which school can collect the most food for charities.