19th annual Make A Difference Day event will help local food pantries

The annual Make A Difference Day food and supply drive to benefit Harmony House and Catholic Charities will kick off at 7 a.m. Oct. 21 in the parking area of Dan Lew Exchange, 28 N. Main St.

The event is a drive-thru collection of nonperishable food items, toiletries and financial donations, according to organizer Doc Stumbo.

This year the event, aimed at restocking food pantries, will begin from 7 to 9 a.m. Oct. 21 at Dan Lew Exchange on the square in front of the former H.L. Reed Building, where cash, checks, canned goods and nonperishable food items can be dropped off, Stumbo said.

The food drive will continue all day, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 21, at two sites, Harmony House, 124 W. Third St., and Catholic Charities, 523 Park Avenue East. Residents are encouraged to drop off donations of cash, checks, canned goods and nonperishable food items at these sites.

Stumbo said this year marks the event's 19th year.

There is a great need at both Harmony House and Catholic Charities to help feed people in need, Stumbo said. Any donation is appreciated, even a single can of food or $1 in cash.

Kelly Blankenship, the director Harmony House, 124 W. Third St., said the homeless shelter expects to serve more than 700 people this year.

"We're seeing a significant increase in the number of homeless families with children, not just single individuals anymore," she said.

"We could use convenience foods and foods kids like for the pantry," she said. "We'll take whatever people would like to give us."

Milk is always needed, she added.

Blankenship said there is an immediate need for paper towels, and disposable plastic ware — forks, knives and spoons and plastic cups.

"And we always need cleaning supplies," Blankenship said. "Cash donations are always good."

Sue Dyson, who runs the food pantry at Catholic Charities said pasta and noodles, any kind of canned meats, cereals and chili beans for soup are needed. "We need ketchup, mustard and salt and pepper and chili pepper. That's such a great help, including condiments and spices."

"Folks are always looking for toothpaste and tooth brushes, laundry soap, shampoo, dish soap and feminine hygiene products and paper products such as toilet paper and paper towel," she said.

Dyson said the Hope Pantry is busy, with so many people seeing increases in rent.

"That trickles down to trouble for people trying to buy groceries," she said. "We're seeing an increase in the number of homeless people. People living out of their cars. As those prices go up, several people have come in and said there rent as gone up $200 and that money comes out of their food budget. We always can use cash because for us we can buy things at a much discounted rate from the food pantry."

Dyson said the cost of delivery from the food bank to Catholic Charities is increasing, so cash always helps the agency food pantry.

Dyson said tissues are always wonderful as it becomes and cold and flu season.

Stumbo said if anyone wants to have their donations earmarked for Harmony House or Catholic Charities picked up, they should call Catholic Charities from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 21 at 419-524-0733 and Stumbo will send a team out to pick up the items.

The local AFL-CIO and the trade unions are getting together already to bring items to the square at DLX. Students at Sherman Elementary also plan to be part of the food drive, as they do each year.

Stumbo said 19 years ago, the local Make A Difference Day food drive was founded.

"We know we've helped a lot of people. We filled up six pantries when we started and we helped pantries to November or Thanksgiving time," he said.

"Cash or checks are welcome and make them out to Catholic Charities and Harmony House," Stumbo said.

Make a Difference Day was created by USA Weekend magazine in 1992 to offer community support and encourage volunteerism across the country. Points of Light, a nonprofit organization founded by former U.S. President George H.W. Bush, is the official co-sponsor of Make a Difference Day. Ever since its inception, Make a Difference Day has echoed in 30 countries and has inspired more than 30 million volunteer hours.

lwhitmir@gannett.com

419-521-7223

Twitter: @LWhitmir

This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Make A Difference Day to benefit Harmony House and Catholic Charities