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Along with dozens of local churches and organizations, three major hunger-fighting nonprofits serving Stark County are ensuring that those in need receive Thanksgiving meals and ingredients to celebrate the holiday this week.
They are the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank, Thanksgiving Baskets Downtown and Vantage Aging’s Meals on Wheels of Northeast Ohio.
The Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank
The Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank was formed in 1982 as a commitment to connect neighbors in need with emergency food. Today, the Foodbank provides food and other essential items to hunger-relief partners within its network across eight Northeast Ohio counties.
Its partners operate 600 food pantries, meal sites, shelters, children and senior programs and other hunger-relief programs in the neighborhoods and communities where people need food in Stark County and beyond. This month, a variety of holiday-related meal items are available through the pantries for neighbors to utilize.
If a neighbor needs help with groceries this holiday season, they are able to find a nearby partner food program at www.akroncantonfoodbank.org/find-help and can call the specific pantry prior to visiting if they’re tracking down a particular ingredient or food item.
Thanksgiving Baskets Downtown
For more than 30 years, Thanksgiving Baskets Downtown has united faith communities and civic organizations in Canton as an all-volunteer effort to provide families with food at Thanksgiving. An interfaith service the week of Thanksgiving brings together community members from all backgrounds and raises money for the program’s next year of distribution.
Thanks to hundreds of volunteers and donations from the community, the nonprofit was able to provide over 900 Stark County families with ingredients for Thanksgiving dinner this past weekend— including a turkey for each family.
Participating organizations that volunteer, donate and assist with distribution include: ArtsinStark, Canton City Lutheran Church, Christ Presbyterian Church, Church of the Covenant Presbyterian Church, Crossroads United Methodist, Fishers Foods, Grace UCC, Islamic Society of NE Ohio, J. Babe Stearn Community Center, New Vision UCC, St. Anthony’s / All Saints Catholic Church, St. George Romanian Catholic Church, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, St. Michael’s Catholic Church, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, StarkFresh, Temple Israel, Trinity UCC and Unitarian Universalist.
“There is true beauty in the interfaith service of Jews, Muslims and Christians the Tuesday before Thanksgiving each year,” said M.L. Schultze, Thanksgiving Baskets Downtown trustee and a former Canton Repository reporter and editor. “The collections from those services seed the next year’s Thanksgiving Baskets Downtown effort, and help us share and take strength from the message of all faiths to care for our neighbors.”
Vantage Aging’s Meals on Wheels of Northeast Ohio
Vantage Aging’s Meals on Wheels program provides nutritious food, companionship and a watchful eye on the health and safety of seniors by delivering meals right to their doorsteps. The organization is committed to supporting seniors to live healthier and more nourished lives in their homes in Stark and surrounding counties.
Nearly 600 clients of its meal delivery program will receive a hot, homemade Thanksgiving meal during the regularly scheduled drop-off on Wednesday. Additionally, 1,000 clients will be provided with a two-day pack of frozen meals or lunches for Thursday and Friday if they will not be with family.
“Our goal is to provide more than just a meal – we’re delivering a sense of connection and care. For many of our seniors, this meal may be the only celebration they have during the holiday season,” said Kim Ventresca, CEO of Vantage Aging, Meals on Wheels of Northeast Ohio. “We are grateful to our volunteers and staff who make this effort possible during the holidays and all year, and we invite you to join in our mission to make a difference in your community.”
To learn more about these organizations, visit www.akroncantonfoodbank.org, www.thanksgivingbasketscanton.org and www.vantageaging.org.
The Stark Community Foundation helps individuals, families, businesses and nonprofits achieve their philanthropic goals. Learn more at www.starkcf.org.
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Stark County organizations ready to help with Thanksgiving meals
