“Hunger doesn’t take a holiday. This time of year can be full of uncertainty for people struggling to cover all their basic expenses,” says The Foodbank’s CEO Michelle L. Riley. “Your compassion this December ensures that families across our community can experience the joy and comfort of a warm meal, not just during the holidays but every day.”
This past year, The Foodbank and its network of partner agencies distributed 15 million meals to over 845,000 people. That’s more than 41,000 meals each day put into the hands of people in need.
The exciting news is that The Foodbank is preparing to open a new Community Centered building. This innovative space, which will open in Fall of 2025, will go beyond hunger relief, offering skills-based job training, workforce development programs, an onsite parole office, medical exam rooms, and more. The mission is to “eliminate hunger and its root causes.” Additional resources and help applying for programs like SNAP will also be offered in this new space.
Our newspaper’s involvement
“For more than 40 years the Dayton Daily News has supported The Foodbank through our annual Valley Food Relief campaign,” said newspaper publisher Suzanne Klopfenstein. “Our partnership with The Foodbank aligns with our mission to keep our readers informed, educated, and engaged in the issues that affect our community. Hunger is not a choice, but we believe that by playing a role in helping those in need, we can make a meaningful difference.”
Valley Food Relief is a multi-county campaign, supporting 12 local counties, and their hunger relief organizations. Supporting this drive allows The Foodbank to fund half of its wholesale food purchase program.
To donate, you can use the Valley Food Relief envelope which can be found in the newspaper on Sunday, December 22. All you need to do is to indicate the county you’d like to support on the front of the envelope. You can also make a donation at www.DaytonDailyNews.com/foodrelief or www.thefoodbankdayton.org/donate and indicate your county in the “other” box. Every $1 given will provide four meals for a family in need thanks to The Foodbank’s large purchasing power.
“Every dollar donated through Valley Food Relief fills gaps in our shelves so that we can continue to meet the need of our community,” says Riley. “Every gift to The Foodbank through Valley Food Relief makes a real difference for families, seniors, and children in need.”
Here’s what they need most:
• Hearty soups
• Stews (beef, chicken and Dumplings)
• Chili
•Peanut Butter and Jelly
• Macaroni and Cheese
• Canned meats: ham, chicken, meat spreads
• Canned fish including tuna, salmon, sardines, other fish
• Nuts, and seeds
• Rice and Beans
• Evaporated milk
• Powdered milk
• Puddings & custards
• Canned fruits: peaches, pears, pineapples, applesauce, fruit cocktail
• Canned juices: apple, cranberry, tomato and vegetable
• Canned vegetables: green beans, peas, corn, tomatoes, potatoes
• Hot and cold breakfast cereals, including oatmeal and Cream of Wheat
• Baking mixes: pancake, corn bread, cake mixes/icing, quick breads
• Pastas and canned sauces
If you are interested in donating nonperishable food items, you can donate them directly to The Foodbank between 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Mondays through Thursdays at 56 Armor Place, Dayton. You can also donate at one of the community food drive locations during the holidays. To see where these locations are, follow The Foodbank’s Facebook Page.
Other ways to help
• In lieu of holiday gifts to friends and family, consider making a donation on their behalf to The Foodbank. The Foodbank team will notify your loved one of the gift! Giving the gift of a meal is easy by using the link www.thefoodbankdayton.org/donate and selecting “honor gift type” on page two while making your donation.
• Volunteers are always needed at The Foodbank. Shifts are typically two hours long and there are various activities to chose from such as food sorting, program box building for one of the Foodbank programs and volunteering in the Greenhouse or garden. If you’re interested, you’ll find more information at https://thefoodbankdayton.org/give-time.
MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Meredith Moss writes about Dayton-area nonprofit organizations and their specific needs. If your group has a wish list it would like to share with our readers, contact Meredith: meredith.moss@coxinc.com. Please include a daytime phone number and a photo that reflects your group’s mission.
Credit: Contributed photo.
Credit: Contributed photo.
About the Author
