Rotary Clubs Deliver Hope Through Doc Smith Baskets and Peanut Butter Drive

The Rotary Clubs of Front Royal and Warren County brought the community together this holiday season to combat food insecurity and spread joy. Through the long-standing Doc Smith Food Basket program and a friendly peanut butter and jelly competition, they provided nourishment and hope to hundreds of families in need.

A Century of Giving

The Doc Smith Food Basket program began in 1916 when Edgar C. “Doc” Smith, Front Royal’s Chief of Police, distributed food to families in need during the holidays. In 2003, the Rotary Club of Front Royal took on the initiative, which will celebrate 21 years under its leadership in 2024.

This year marked the largest effort to date, with 220 families receiving food baskets filled with over 100 meals each. The baskets included frozen meats sourced locally from Saffelle Cattle Company, which donated 50% of the meat, as well as cheese, butter, fresh vegetables, bread, potatoes, and shelf-stable items. Larger families received additional supplies to ensure everyone was well-fed not only for the holidays but through the winter months.

A Community United

The success of the Doc Smith Food Basket program was made possible by the collaborative efforts of community partners. Organizations like Scout Troops 4 and 4G, Skyline High School, local elementary schools, the Blue Ridge Food Bank, the Department of Social Services, and local nonprofits such as Dinner Together all contributed. Volunteers worked tirelessly to pack the baskets and distribute them to families, creating an atmosphere of compassion and teamwork.

The clubs also added a dash of fun to their mission with a peanut butter and jelly drive. Both clubs challenged each other to collect as many jars as possible, resulting in a total of 1,297 jars. The Rotary Club of Warren County collected an impressive 812 jars, beating the Rotary Club of Front Royal’s 485 jars. As a result, Warren County Club President Ellen Aders delivered a peanut butter and jelly pie to the face of Front Royal Club President Holly Rhodenhizer in good-natured fun.

More Than Just Food

The peanut butter and jelly donations will help stock blessing boxes around town, fill backpacks for children, and supplement the food baskets distributed through the Doc Smith program. Every detail was thoughtfully planned to maximize the community’s benefit. Leftover food was shared with local initiatives such as Backpack Buddies, ensuring nothing went to waste.

Leadership and Legacy

The project was spearheaded by committee heads Christy McMillan-Goodwin and Lizi Lewis, who, alongside a dedicated team of Rotary Club members, ensured the program ran smoothly. Their leadership reflected the Rotary Clubs’ core mission of service above self.

Lizi Lewis and Christy McMillan-Goodwin

As the Doc Smith Food Basket program approaches its 21st year with the Rotary Club of Front Royal, it continues to showcase the strength of kindness and collaboration. By tackling food insecurity with innovation and a united community spirit, the Rotary Clubs are making a meaningful and lasting difference—one family, one jar of peanut butter, and one act of generosity at a time.