toledoblade.com -- The Blade ~ Toledo Ohio

Kimberly Vargas, 41, of South Toledo, stood outside the Erie Street Market Wednesday morning next to a stack of boxes almost as tall as she.

After waiting nearly two hours in line, she received food and toiletries that she planned to give to her elderly neighbor.

Her neighbor lives on a fixed income and can only afford to take half of the medication her doctor prescribes because of its steep price.

"That's really nice," she said as she peeled back the tape to reveal toothpaste in one box and Avon products in another. "That will make her feel good."

A national nonprofit, Feed The Children, joined the local Salvation Army to bring two tractor- trailers full of supplies to Toledo and give them to about 800 area families. Free school supplies and health screenings, as well as entertainment for children, will be distributed later.

Families needing assistance registered to receive a 25-pound box of food, a 10-pound box of personal care items, a box of Avon products, and a box of spaghetti sauce.

Volunteers arrange boxes of food and toiletries for distribution by Feed The Children, a national group that worked with the Salvation Army to provide extra assistance to area residents.
( THE BLADE/ANDY MORRISON )

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The goal was to provide a family of four enough supplies to last a week, said John Tracy, Feed The Children distribution center manager in Elkhart, Ind.

The distribution was not scheduled to start until 10 a.m., but lines formed by 7:30 a.m., he said.

The line wrapped around the Erie Street Market building and moved consistently after distribution began, but it did not shorten throughout the morning as more people came to receive supplies.

"The poor are always going to be with us, but it's at a level we haven't seen in the Midwest," Mr. Tracy said. "It's very humbling to be a part of it."

Sandra Hendrix, 42, of West Toledo, out of work since January because of back pain, waited in line for supplies.

She said the free food and toiletries will be beneficial as she raises her two grandchildren without an income.

"It will help a whole lot," she said. "It's a blessing to the community especially with the economy the way it is. It's hard to get along. It's hard to make it."

Ms. Hendrix especially looked forward to signing up for free school supplies, which will be distributed closer to the start of school.

Kevin Vargas, 43, of East Toledo, hopes the boxes he stood in line to receive will help him get by until he gets his next round of food stamps.

"It will help me get through the end of the month," said Mr. Vargas, who is unemployed and waiting on disability assistance.

He said many people in Toledo need more than what the government is providing.

"Welfare isn't enough for the families in the state of Ohio to get by," Mr. Vargas said. "The food stamps aren't enough. The cash assistance isn't enough."

Steven Lopes, the Salvation Army area services coordinator, said the best part about Feed The Children's event is that it gives families a little extra without jeopardizing their relationship with their usual food provider.

"This is just an extra boost for them," he said. "It's added orders of groceries that they otherwise wouldn't have gotten."

The event also attracted about 100 volunteers from the Toledo area, the majority of which came from Owens-Illinois Inc.

Ruby Burel, an Owens-Illinois employee who helped unload boxes and transported them to families' cars, said it was gratifying to help her community.

"It's just been fun, heartfelt," she said. "It's a joy to know we're giving back."

Feed The Children's distribution in Toledo was one of about 75 stops that the organization plans to make across the country this year.

"Our hope is to give people a ray of hope, that they aren't struggling alone," Mr. Tracy said.

Contact Sarah Mervosh at:
smervosh@theblade.com
or 419-724-6050.

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