METRO DIGEST || Virtual food drive to benefit 9 food banks

Bistro Group plans virtual food drive

YOUNGSTOWN

The Bistro Group, the nation’s third largest franchisee of T.G.I. Friday’s restaurants, is having its third annual Can For A Fan virtual food drive benefiting nine regional food banks.

T.G.I. Friday’s in the greater Youngstown area will donate one can of food to the Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley for each new Youngstown local Facebook fan at Facebook.com/EatAtTGIFridays.

In addition to Facebook, the initiative expands to Pinterest this year. On TGI Friday’s Can For A Fan Pinterest board, Pinterest.com/eatattgifridays/canforafan, users can like the Second Harvest Food Bank pinned logo, and an additional can of food will be donated.

T.G.I. Friday’s will continue the food drive through Dec. 31 or until 5,000 cans have been donated.

Food relief run/walk set in McDonald

MCDONALD

The Grainger Foundation has donated $10,000 to Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley in support of the fourth annual McDonald Lions Club 5K Feed the Need Run and Fun Walk on Saturday. The check will be presented before the race about 9:15 a.m. at 201 Ohio Ave. in McDonald.

“This grant will be used to distribute food to more than 150 hunger-relief organizations in Columbiana, Mahoning, and Trumbull counties,” said Michael Iberis, executive director of the Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley.

Education forum for ACTION planned

WARREN

ACTION, a community organizing group, will have a forum at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at First United Methodist Church, 309 N. Park Avenue. Organized under the theme “Failure is Not an Option,” the forum is designed for parents and guardians who are concerned about educational issues in Warren.

Speakers will include Michael Notar, Warren City Schools superintendent, and other local school officials.

The goal of the meeting is to ensure that every child will receive a quality education so that he or she will be able to achieve their full potential and compete in a global marketplace.

“We need to build a broad parent coalition that is informed, that is engaged, and that is demanding excellent public schools for their children,” said Rev. Robert Stringer, chairman of the event.

Emergency-shelter campaign kicks off

YOUNGSTOWN

The kick-off for the Help Hotline Crisis Center’s Cold Weather Emergency Shelter Program will be next Friday. The event will begin with the fifth annual Homeless Walk at 9 a.m. at St. Vincent DePaul Soup Kitchen, 208 W. Front St. A press conference will follow at 9:30 a.m. at the Rescue Mission of the Mahoning Valley, 962 Martin Luther King Blvd. For information contact Duane Piccitilli or Bob Altman at the Help Hotline Crisis Center administrative office by calling 330-747-5111.

Dawson appointed

EAST LIVERPOOL

Columbiana County Engineer Bert Dawson, P.E., P.S., of East Liverpool has been appointed to the State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Surveyors.

His term ends in September 2017. Dawson previously served on the board from 2005 to 2010. He is also sanitary engineer for Columbiana County.