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Cafe owner, friend collect items for Marines at war
From now through May, Loren Cole, owner of Peaberry’s Cafe in Canfield, is asking residents to donate items for a supply drive that will benefit the 110th’s 1st Battalion 10th Marines unit in Afghanistan. Items can be dropped off in bins at the café, 4350 Boardman-Canfield Road, and in appreciation, each donor will receive a free cup of coffee.
What to donate:
Personal hygiene items: Deodorant, razors, toothbrushes, toothpaste, shaving cream, baby wipes, liquid soap.
Food products: Power bars, bubble gum, sunflower seeds, prepackaged cookies, candy, nuts, beef jerky, chips, drink mixes.
Miscellaneous: Books, magazines, 72-inch boot laces, socks, Chapstick, AA and AAA batteries.
Source: Loren Cole,
owner of Peaberry’s Cafe
- Place:Peaberry's Bakery & Cafe/Canfield
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4350 Boardman Canfield Road, Canfield
By Elise Franco
Canfield
A local business owner is doing his part to ensure deployed soldiers have a little something extra this holiday season.
Loren Cole, owner of Peaberry’s Cafe, and family friend Frank Pezzano are launching their second annual supply drive in support of Pezzano’s son’s Marine unit, the 110th’s 1st Battalion 10th Marines.
Cole organized the drive last year after Pezzano’s son, Frank Pezzano, 21, of McDonald, was shipped overseas with his unit.
Pezzano’s son and the unit recently were shipped to Afghanistan, where they will be stationed until May, and Cole said because the drive was so successful the first time, they wanted to try it again.
“Last year, we shipped almost 1,000 pounds of supplies to Frank and his guys,” Cole said. “It was amazing.”
Donation bins will be located at Peaberry’s Cafe, 4350 Boardman-Canfield Road, beginning today, he said.
Cole said he hopes Mahoning Valley residents will support the drive again this year, and to show his appreciation, every person who donates gets a free cup of coffee.
“We’re not asking for much, even if all you can donate is a buck and a thing of Handi Wipes,” he said. “It makes me so proud of everybody when we load those boxes into the post office.”
Toiletries, nonperishable food, games, movies, puzzles and supplies such as boot laces and white crew socks are some of the most commonly requested items.
Pezzano said the supply drive is especially meaningful for him because he’s able to see how many people care about his son and the unit.
“We can’t say thank you enough to the community,” he said. “A lot of these guys don’t have anything, so when they get boxes like this, they’re very appreciative.”
Cole said it’s important to support local supply drives throughout the Valley, during the holidays and year-round.
“It breaks my heart when these guys have no one,” he said.
For more information or to help out with the drive, contact Loren Cole at 330- 518-9020.