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YSU president urges salvation for Valley’s Army
POLAND
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Recipients of Salvation Army of Mahoning County awards presented at the Civic Dinner on Tuesday are, from left: Carol J. Bigelow, OTHERS Award; and Sam Covelli and Dale Sheely Sr., who each received the Distinguished Community Service Award.
Those who are fortunate, who had food in the refrigerator this morning and have a place to sleep tonight need to share their good fortune, said Dr. Cynthia Anderson, president of Youngstown State University.
One way to share is to help the Salvation Army of Mahoning County be a shield for the homeless and hungry and hopeless, said Anderson, keynote speaker for the Salvation Army’s 2012 Annual Civic Dinner Tuesday night at the Lake Club.
She described the “engagement cycle” to get involved: awareness and identification of needs, decision to act, and then share.
“We know of the phenomenal good work done by the Salvation Army. Can you imagine our community without the Salvation Army,” she said as she urged people to get involved and help.
The definition of absolute poverty is the lack of food, shelter, clothing and water, Anderson said.
Two billion people in the world live in poverty; 35 to 40 million people in the United States live in poverty, and Youngstown has the highest areas of concentrated poverty among the nation’s largest cities, she said.
Children who grow up in poverty have more health problems and miss more school, and there is a direct correlation between poverty and crime, Anderson said.
“We can make the decision to act or not. What are you going to do?” she asked, challenging the audience.
Three community leaders who share through the Salvation Army Mahoning County Areas Services were recognized at the event.
Carol J. Bigelow received the OTHERS Award for extraordinary spirit of service on behalf of “others” and exceptional service to The Salvation Army and/or community.
Her volunteer service with the Mahoning County Salvation Army includes co-chairing and ringing bells for the Red Kettle Campaign and serving on the Army’s Advisory Board.
Sam Covelli, owner/ operator of Covelli Enterprises, and Dale Sheely Sr. of North Lima, each received the Distinguished Community Service Award.
Covelli Enterprises of Warren, the single largest franchisee of Panera Bread and O’Charley’s Restaurants in the nation, donated more than $12 million in unsold bread products to hunger relief organizations last year and raised $300,000 for breast-cancer research and treatment.
Since Sheely formed the Dale and Alyce Sheely Family Foundation in 1994, it has provided more than $2 million worth of food, clothing and assistance to area families in need.
Major Elijah Kahn, coordinator of the Mahoning County Salvation Army, also thanked and recognized four volunteer groups for their assistance over the last year: Poland Presbyterian Church, Poland United Methodist Church, Victory Christian Center, and Cardinal Mooney High School students.