The United Way of Greater Toledo will once again hold its United for the Holidays program. For the third consecutive year, United Way is partnering with the Islamic Food Bank and Grace Community Center, and for the first time, with Brown Bag Food Project in Bowling Green and BCS Food Pantry in Oak Harbor.
The program brings together corporate sponsors, more than 200 volunteers, and community partners to assemble over 500 holiday boxes filled with two weeks worth of food for a family of four.
In United Way of Greater Toledo’s service area of Lucas, Ottawa, and Wood counties, 40 percent of families live at or below the ALICE threshold (asset-limited, income-constrained, and employed). These families live paycheck to paycheck, and financial difficulties are exacerbated by rising inflation and escalating utility expenses.
The food boxes sponsored by United Way partners and packed by community volunteers provide supplemental support to families for a happier holiday season.
“United Way of Greater Toledo embraces its role as a vital community resource that utilizes data, human capital, and financial support to address social challenges that cannot be resolved by any single donor, nonprofit, or government agency alone,” stated Wendy Pestrue, CEO of United Way of Greater Toledo. “Our mission extends beyond merely distributing holiday food boxes; it’s about linking individuals to the essential resources they need to thrive, and fostering connections between our corporate and community partners to effectively deliver those resources. This holiday food box initiative serves as a powerful opportunity to unite all segments of our community. We adopt a holistic perspective; providing families with access to groceries enables them to fulfill their financial obligations, including rent or mortgage payments, childcare, and healthcare expenses.”
Food box packing events began November 13, and will continue through November 25. Boxes will be distributed to local partners that serve families in need throughout the region, including Sunshine Communities, Nuestra Gente Food Pantry, Perrysburg Heights Community Center, Helping Hands of St. Louis, Ashland Baptist Church in Oregon, and families in Toledo’s Urban Core.
“It is so important to give back all year round, but we know that there’s more need around the holiday season,” said Trezelle Jenkins, plant manager, Stellantis’ Toledo Assembly Complex. “One of Stellantis’ values is to care for the future, and the work that the United Way does helps us support our broader community to alleviate some of that stress.”
For anyone in need of a connection to food, shelter, educational support, or a myriad of other local resources, United Way’s 211 information and referral line is available as a 24/7 call center, staffed by local, trained professionals who help address emergent needs as well as root causes of needs for assistance.
Residents in need of help can call 211, visit 211nwo .org, or text their ZIP code to 898-211.
