For residents who are eagerly anticipating the holiday season, the countdown of shopping days until Christmas and the thought of pumpkin pie fill the idle hours.

Sunday, November 14, 1999

For residents who are eagerly anticipating the holiday season, the countdown of shopping days until Christmas and the thought of pumpkin pie fill the idle hours.

But, for some area families, the holiday season means worrying about not only Christmas dinner, but afterwards, when food will still be in short supply. For these families, basic staple foods like bread and milk are gifts.

Although county food pantries and outreach programs are here to help, these volunteers rely upon the donations they receive to provide for those who need assistance.

At Central Christian Church’s food pantry in Ironton, no donation will go unused, chairman Jim Middleton said.

"We can use any kind of donations," Middleton said. "The number of people we help is always limited to the number of donations we receive. There are always more calls than we have food."

As the calls for aid continue to pour in, Middleton and other volunteers and members of the board continue to seek donations to fill as much of the need as possible.

"We’re open for collections and receiving donations Monday through Thursday from 8 to 11:45 a.m.," he said. "We need everything, so any kind of donation will be put to good use. It will go to help someone who needs it."

For assistance, to volunteer or to make a donation, call 532-0681 or visit the pantry, which is located behind Central Christian Church at 1541 S. Seventh St.

In Chesapeake, at Community Mission Outreach, the busiest time of year already has begun.

Director Cline McNeely and several volunteers are making their list for the annual Christmas food baskets. Each year, hundreds are helped and fed through the generous donations of local churches, individuals and civic groups.

But, every year, it is a struggle to feed all who need assistance, McNeely said.

Basic staple items, such as flour, bread and peanut butter are always a big help, and any canned goods or basic household necessities are in short supply.

To volunteer, to make a donation or to request assistance, call 867-6628 or visit the mission outreach center at the Chesapeake Community Center on Ohio 7.

Every day at the City Welfare Mission in Ironton another hungry resident is fed. On Thanksgiving, the lunchtime crowd will leap to an estimated 500.

"We’re preparing now for our big Thanksgiving dinner that we have every year," the Rev. Jim Cremeans said. "Serving 500 people in a day means the ladies and volunteers will prepare about 25 20-pound turkeys, and that’s just the beginning of the work involved."

Donations are needed to make sure every hungry person who comes through the mission doors will have a nutritious meal on the day many residents give thanks for a bountiful table.

Without help from groups and individuals, the mission will have to turn hungry families away.

"Just anything, as far as food items, are needed. Canned fruit is something that we can always use more of, too," Cremeans said. "Always, cash donations are appreciated because we have to purchase so many items. But we are open for anything people want to give us because we can always pass it along and help other folks with it."

The City Mission not only serves an annual Thanksgiving meal, but provides a daily lunch as well as food and shelter to those in need.

To volunteer, make a donation or receive assistance, call 532-5041.