Hundreds treated to annual meal Santa’s visit tops off day of food, camaraderie

By Sean Barron

The agency also is available to those seeking spiritual guidance, a volunteer said.

Barbara Heath has helped rear 13 children and has dealt with being homeless and divorced.

Nevertheless, she’s not shy about expressing gratitude for what she has, as well as for the local agency she says has helped her in numerous ways.

“People come to them with a need, and they take care of them,” the Youngstown woman said, referring to the Gleaners Food Bank in Youngstown.

The food bank, along with the Youngstown Community Food Center, hosted Thursday’s 16th annual Christmas dinner at the St. Patrick Church Social Hall, 1410 Oak Hill Ave., on Youngstown’s South Side.

Just more than 300 people came to the hourlong dinner, which also featured an appearance by Santa Claus as well as gifts for attendees.

Heath, who calls herself “a neighborhood mother,” said she gives food and occasional referrals to those in her East Side neighborhood who seek her out. Gleaners has been a tremendous source of strength and help for Heath, she continued.

“I’m in the people helping business,” she said with a chuckle.

Four generations of Betty Price’s family enjoyed a ham dinner as well as the camaraderie and positive atmosphere.

Price, of Youngstown, said this was her second year attending the dinner. She praised the event’s organizers and said she’s not ashamed of her plight.

“I’m on a fixed income,” Price said, holding her 2-month-old great-granddaughter, Elizabeth. “The bills come first.”

Sitting next to Price were her two grandchildren and daughter, Regina Haddle, of Youngstown.

Attending nursing school to better provide for Elizabeth while helping herself and others is a primary goal for Price’s granddaughter, Amber, who’s also Elizabeth’s mother.

In addition to helping those less fortunate by providing food, Gleaners tries to assist them spiritually, noted Don Nye, who’s volunteered with the agency for more than 10 years. The food bank also gives away donated clothing, furniture and appliances; in addition, Bibles and prayer ministries are available, he said.

“They’re spiritually hungry as well as physically hungry,” Nye noted, adding that he’s now seeing a lot more people in need.

The difficult economic times, however, also are bringing more people together, many of whom are searching for greater spiritual guidance and connectedness, he explained.

The dinner began at the former Pyatt Street Market before moving to St. Patrick’s six years ago to accommodate a growing need, noted Joseph Lordi, Gleaners’ director and the event’s main organizer.

Some people suffer from depression, have little or no family or have lost loved ones, and the holidays can be particularly difficult. The gathering, as well as the agency’s other offerings, can help those in tough circumstances feel like they have an extended family, he said.

Lordi also praised the 30 to 40 volunteers, many of whom prepared and served meals, seated attendees and performed other duties.

Youngsters received board games and other items donated by the local Toys for Tots program. Adults took home fruit baskets and poinsettias.