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Food bank plans Christmas dinner
YOUNGSTOWN
Dozens of families, friends, volunteers and well-wishers will come together once again this year for a community Christmas celebration and gift giveaway at St. Patrick’s Church on Oakhill Avenue.
Gleaners Food Bank on Pyatt Street will host the Christmas Day celebration with a dinner starting at noon at the church. The dinner will be followed by a toy giveaway for kids as well as flowers for the elderly and clothing, cookies, candy and fruit baskets for all.
Joseph Lordi has been organizing the Christmas Day celebration for 19 years. He said the dinner and giveaway were built out of his own memories of being without.
“I can remember losing my job and being forced to go on welfare and not being able to buy anything for Christmas. That is a really depressing thing,” he said. “It’s all about people helping other people.”
Lordi and volunteers intend to provide a complete, traditional holiday meal to at least 450 people.
The first Christmas dinner, Lordi said, was 19 years ago. A number of elderly people and other community members mentioned that they did not have anyone with whom they could spend the holiday. That dinner took place at the Pyatt Street Diner, but the annual celebration quickly outgrew the diner and was moved to the church.
Annie Hall, community activist and food-bank volunteer, said those planning to attend should sign up in advance at Gleaners on Pyatt Street so organizers can have an accurate head count, but no one will be turned away at the door.
“Things are tight around Christmas time. That is why we are trying to feed as many people as possible. Things are really hard for people right now,” she said. “This is very important. For a lot of these kids, if it wasn’t for this event, they would not have Christmas gifts or much of anything. A lot of parents are out of work, so this is very important.”
Hall said the toys given to the children all come from the Marines’ Toys for Tots campaign. The food used for the dinner is provided by local grocery stores and individual donations.
Gleaners also provides food baskets to those in need every Tuesday at the Pyatt Street location. Hall said those looking to receive a basket need only bring a photo ID and proof of income.
According to Lordi, the food bank was started in 1984 out of the back of his car, then moved to an empty warehouse before eventually finding a home at the Pyatt Street location.
“We have been blessed and want to bless others so that they can bless someone else,” Lordi said.