Charities seek Thanksgiving aid

Missions, churches asking for volunteers, donations of cash, food

BY JULIE M. MCKINNON
BLADE STAFF WRITER

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Jim Bailey, facility manager at the Cherry Street Mission Madison Food Services Facility, holds one of the few turkeys the mission has received. The organization is trying to fill 550 food boxes for the needy. THE BLADE/DAVE ZAPOTOSKY Enlarge | Photo Reprints

As Thanksgiving nears, Cherry Street Mission Ministries and other organizations still need key volunteers and fixings to provide holiday meals for thousands of needy people.

Cherry Street Mission needs food including turkeys, instant potatoes, turkey gravy, chicken broth, canned cranberry sauce, and stuffing mix to help fill 550 food boxes, up from 500 last year.

All of the food boxes containing items to prepare Thanksgiving dinner for four to six people were reserved before November.

"There's a large increase in need," said Ashley Shaffer, Cherry Street Mission spokesman.

At Toledo's Pilgrim Church, where 60 more people attended Thanksgiving dinner last year than had the year before -- for a total of 324 -- organizer Nancy Campbell said she expects that number to grow by 50 or 60 this year.

"They really seem appreciative," she said of those attending the meal.

Volunteers are needed at Pilgrim Church as early as 8 a.m. Thanksgiving Day, and the church also needs donations of turkeys, cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes, butter, and other items for the meal.

Toledo Gospel Rescue Mission, which last year served Thanksgiving breakfast to 180 people, needs sausage, pancake syrup, butter, and coffee for that meal.

First Baptist Church in Oregon is cooking the breakfast, but the rescue mission could use turkeys and canned goods for other daily meals as well as volunteers to help serve any time, said the Rev. Thomas Clapsaddle, executive director.

The mission also is in the midst of expanding a three-room women's residence to add five rooms for women with small children, the Rev. Clapsaddle said.

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Toledo Gospel Rescue Mission has had to turn away women with children because it doesn't have the space, he said.

"Right now, I'm turning away four to six ladies a week," he said. "When I think about a child being homeless, it's one of those things that tears me up inside. It's a small step, but we've got to do something."

Zoar Lutheran Church in Perrysburg, which accepts freewill offerings from parishioners and residents for its annual Thanksgiving dinner, still needs volunteers to help with the meal and monetary donations for food.

St. Joan of Arc Church in Toledo could use monetary donations for groceries for its Thanksgiving dinner.

Besides food, Cherry Street Mission needs volunteers to assemble and deliver the 550 food boxes on Nov. 22 as well as on Thanksgiving Day to deliver 500 boxes with prepared food.

The mission also needs volunteers and food donations, including turkeys and other items, to serve a holiday meal on Nov. 26.

Cherry Street is accepting monetary donations; $45, for example, will cover the cost of one of the boxes of Thanksgiving groceries for four to six people.

Contact Julie M. McKinnon at: jmckinnon@theblade.com or 419-724-6087.

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