Ohio independent auto dealers are doing a marvelous thing for their community food banks. Let this act spread farther than the H1N1 virus and may God bless each and ever one who gets involved.

THIS STORY REPORTED TO US BY SHELLEY GRIESHOP OF THE DAILY STANDARD NEWSPAPER.

“Cash for Cans”

Area car dealerships are banding together this holiday season for a unique project to help the needy families in Mercer County.

“Cash for Cans” kicks off Monday and will run through Dec. 18, according to project organizer Randy Griesdorn of CARS Inc. in Coldwater. To date, six area dealerships have committed to the fundraiser that will provide food and other items, as well as cash to CALL Food Pantry in Celina.

“We’re concerned for the needs of the county citizens who’ve been laid off or furloughed in their jobs,” Griesdorn said.

The dealerships involved are CARS and Corner Auto Sales in Coldwater; Buds Chrysler Dodge Jeep, Select Motors and Rino’s Auto Sales in Celina; and Hastings Auto Sales in Fort Recovery.

The project — named as a spoof off the “Cash for Clunkers” government deal — asks the public to drop off nonperishable items for the needy. But there’s a twist: dealerships vow to donate a cash donation based on the value of the items they collect.

Here’s how it works: The dealerships will serve as drop-off locations for items such as canned/packaged food and hygiene supplies. After Dec. 18, each dealer will take their items to a participating local grocery store to be scanned for retail value. The final tally will be matched in cash by each individual dealership.

Prior to Christmas, the cash and items collected will be presented to CALL, Griesdorn explained.

“We’re committed to collect as much as we can,” he added.

Griesdorn said the idea came to him after praying for a special way to help others this holiday season.

“I was taught that everything you have is a gift and you should never forget to give back,” he said. “This ain’t about us, the guys are looking way beyond themselves. This is about what we can achieve for the people who need it.”

— Shelley Grieshop

Mercer County

Number of families seeking food breaks all-time record

Subhead: CALL Food Pantry in Celina moving to larger site

By SHELLEY GRIESHOP

sgrieshop@dailystandard.com

The largest food pantry in the area is moving to a more spacious location as the number of families in need continues to climb.

CALL Food Pantry, currently located on North Main Street in Celina, will move the week after Christmas to a much larger building on Brandon Avenue in the city.

Food pantry Director Tim Clutter said the timing couldn’t be better. The ministry currently serves 21 percent more people than it did in 2008.

“In the month of October, the food pantry served the highest number of families ever served in its history,” Clutter said.

Families must meet state and federal poverty guidelines and be a resident of Mercer County in order to use CALL Food Pantry no more than twice per month.

Last month, 813 families — including 2,279 individuals — received food and other items from CALL. Volunteers had thought last year’s record — an increase of 19 percent from the year before — was troubling.

Once again donations are slipping as the need skyrockets.

“Donations are needed now more than ever, especially with the holidays coming and the colder winter weather,” Clutter said.

Food items are always welcome but cash donations allow him to get “more bang for the buck” when he visits the West Ohio Food Bank in Lima, he said. For example, a recent trip netted him 10,000 pounds of food for $800. The combined items had a retail value of $8,800, he added.

In today’s economy, every penny counts as new faces continue to arrive at our door, Clutter said.

“I don’t see the number of clients falling; there seems to be more need in Mercer County now than ever before, even though the national media continues to tell us the recession is over,” Clutter said.

The most recently-released unemployment rate for Mercer County was 7.8 percent for the month of September — much lower than the statewide rate of 10.1 percent. But Clutter believes the local number is deceiving.

“Several clients told me the unemployment rate is dropping because their benefits have run out” and they’ve been dropped from the list, Clutter said.

The new building that will house CALL is near the former Mersman factory site. It is owned by RCS Construction and also is home to Sources Community Network Services.

Clutter said rent fees will remain the same as the downtown location across from the county courthouse. He and other volunteers are grateful for the offer by RCS and look forward to the extra space.

Agape Food Ministries, 1220 E. Spring St., St. Marys, also is dealing with a continuing high number of clients and is looking for donations to fill the need. The organization currently is serving nearly 700 individuals each month, Director Kathy Bayless said.

“We’re up about 20 new clients each month,” she said. “We’re not losing any either. Usually they drop off here and there, but not lately.”

Bayless said they’ve been blessed with local food drives but are always searching for more items to fill their shelves.

“Hunger’s not seasonal. People are hungry all year round,” she explained.

Some people don’t understand that even after a person lands a job, it takes time for them to get back on their feet.

“It sometimes takes people months to recoup what they lost. The outside world doesn’t grasp that,” she added.

Anyone wishing to donate to CALL Food Pantry can drop off cash, checks or items in person at 112 N. Main St. or call for information at 419-586-3574. The office is open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon.

Agape’s hours are 9-11 a.m. Tuesdays and noon to 2:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. The contact number is 419-394-8700.