Operation Blessing volunteer to join hall

Brindiar joins Bob Hope, John Glenn and Woody Hayes in the Hall of Fame.
By IAN HILL
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
CANFIELD -- Betty Brindiar knows what it's like to have to rely on the kindness of others to make it through the day.
While growing up with an alcoholic father, Brindiar said she and her brothers and sisters often had to go to the local American Legion hall so they could eat a free lunch.
"That's many, many years ago, but I still remember those days," said Brindiar, 80, of Canfield.
Driven in part by those memories, Brindiar now helps other local residents in need as the lead volunteer at Operation Blessing, a food-distribution service based at Canfield Presbyterian Church. She has been the organization's lead volunteer for 10 years, managing food orders and directing the organization's 40 volunteers.
"We have a great bunch of people. We are all from different churches, and we all get along," Brindiar said.
The Ohio Department of Aging recently honored Brindiar for her service by making her one of this year's 13 inductees into the state's Senior Citizens Hall of Fame. Past inductees include entertainer Bob Hope, astronaut and former U.S. Sen. John Glenn, columnist Erma Bombeck, former Ohio State football coach Woody Hayes, and former Gov. James Rhodes.
Credits others
"I'm thrilled to death," Brindiar said, adding that much of the credit for the honor should go to the other Operation Blessing volunteers.
"If I didn't have these people to work with, there's no way I'd be able to handle this responsibility," she said.
Chuck Schiffhauer, project coordinator for the United Way's Volunteer Services Agency Inc., of Youngstown, described Brindiar as humble and said she has a enthusiasm for volunteering at Operation Blessing. Schiffhauer nominated Brindiar for the award.
He added that Brindiar's induction into the Hall of Fame demonstrates her importance as a volunteer.
"When you think we have people doing things in Youngstown that are just as important as what people nationally are doing ... I just think it's a thrill to see their names listed on the same page as Woody Hayes'."
Gwen Neff, Operation Blessing's financial officer, also praised Brindiar for her devotion and said she works tirelessly for the organization.
"She's the type of person who would give you the shirt off her back," said William Eynon, administrator for Canfield Presbyterian Church.
Volunteer career
Brindiar said she began volunteering about 15 years ago, after her husband died. She had worked for the Woolworth Co. for 43 years before retiring in 1986.
"I had to get into something or I was going to go stark raving mad," she said.
Brindiar called Volunteer Services Agency Inc. and volunteered with a program that produced Braille reading materials. When the program was discontinued, she then joined Meals on Wheels, which eventually led her to Operation Blessing.
In 1994, Brindiar was asked to serve as lead volunteer for Operation Blessing. Schiffhauer said the skills Brindiar had learned working in a Woolworth stockroom made her a natural choice to lead an organization that ran a food pantry.
"When they asked me, I said, 'All I can do is try,'" Brindiar said.
Operation Blessing serves about 250-300 families each month.
hill@vindy.com