From the Corvallis Gazette-Times:

The Community Holiday Food Drive for Benton County will return this year in a different, coronavirus-influenced fashion.

“This would have been the 40th year, so it kind of would have been a special one,” said Ryan McCambridge, director of Linn Benton Food Share.

It will be special, in a way, in that Benton County residents in need can pick up gift cards for groceries at local food banks in lieu of the usual food basket. This year, $20 gift cards to Corvallis’ Ninth Street Grocery Outlet will be available for pickup at numerous charity and food bank facilities throughout the mid-valley. Upon cashing in gift cards, the grocer will also throw in a dozen eggs.

“This is the safest way we can do that while also providing a benefit for low-income folks that would provide a better relief for the Thanksgiving holiday,” McCambridge said. “We’re keeping the spirit of it alive, but just acknowledging that COVID has changed some things this year.”