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Church, sheriff help with meals
YOUNGSTOWN
The Mahoning County Sheriff’s Department along with First Federated Church of North Jackson and a list of volunteers are working to deliver a Thanksgiving meal to the tables of senior citizens.
The effort is part of the fifth annual Thanksgiving for Seniors program. The sheriff’s department’s senior-services program will be providing Thanksgiving dinner to referred senior citizens who are unable to cook or are home-bound with no means of obtaining the traditional Thanksgiving meal from friends and family.
Area agencies working with senior citizens on a regular basis have referred the names of seniors meeting the criteria.
Members at the First Federated Church of North Jackson have prepared the meals. Sheriff Randall Wellington, Sen. John Schiavoni of Canfield, D-33rd; Mahoning County Commissioners John McNally and Anthony Traficanti; and a list of volunteers will be meeting at the First Federated Church today to pick up dinners for delivery.
According to Wellington, the program will distribute about 300 meals this year — more than any time in the five previous years of the program.
“This has been very successful. I personally deliver some of the meals and you can see the expression on their faces, it’s overwhelming. A lot of the people have no families and are just appreciative,” he said. “I really enjoy doing this. It makes my holiday.”
Wellington said it is too late to take part in the program this year, but he encourages seniors to sign up for future senior programs through the sheriff’s department senior program.
Financial and food donations for the project have been made by the Austintown Walmart, Boardman Sam’s Club, Holy Family Church of Poland, Comfort Keepers and Home Instead Senior Care.