Day of Hope serves hundreds at Wilson, Salem with groceries, meals, family fun

YOUNGSTOWN

Barbara Riley simply couldn’t contain the smile on her face or the gratitude in her heart as she savored her last day of being 56.

“This is a blessed day for so many people,” the Youngstown woman said. “My birthday is tomorrow and I’m going to carry this good feeling right on into tomorrow.”

Riley, who by now has turned 57, and her friend, Vicki Grissett, 64, were among hundreds of people who turned out Saturday for The Day of Hope at Wilson Junior High School on Gibson Street. A similar event took place simultaneously at Salem High School in Columbiana County.

The family-oriented event on Youngstown’s South Side was sponsored by Convoy of Hope, NOW Youngstown, Community Initiative to Reduce Violence and Youngstown City Schools.

Families and individuals were welcome to take home groceries, get a haircut, have a family portrait taken, and enjoy games, lunch and entertainment, all of which were free. There was also a carnival-like room for kids, with bounce-arounds, an inflatable slide and a host of other games and activities.

Dozens of volunteers were on hand to help keep pedestrian traffic moving and ensure that people were directed to the proper areas for what they wanted.

Pastor Nathan Ortiz of Victory Christian Center, who was one of the event coordinators, said visitors were given two bags of groceries, a full chicken and some potatoes.

Read more about this inaugural event in Sunday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.