In a time when many people are worried about where their next meal will come from, Catholic Charities in the Diocese of Cleveland is working to help make the holidays a little easier by distributing 12,000 turkey dinners for Thanksgiving.
The St. Augustine Hunger Center Thanksgiving meals campaign is an annual initiative to bring the cheer of a turkey dinner to those in need on Thanksgiving.
Jim Mullen, president and CEO of the organization, indicates that there is great need in the Cleveland area this year.
“One in six people across Northeast Ohio is food insecure, a number that is climbing rapidly with the rising cost of food and recent SNAP restrictions,” Mullen said in a Nov. 11 statement the diocese published before the government reopened and fully funded the program. “We embrace the holiday season as an especially important time to connect with the families and individuals we serve, building community and creating hope one nourishing meal at a time.”
Members of the Greater Cleveland Area will come to the St. Augustine Hunger Center from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. for a hot meal. Those who wish to enjoy the dinner at home can request hot meals to be delivered to them, though they must do so by noon on Nov. 24.
The campaign is looking for donations of food or money to help make this ambitious project possible. Those interested in making a financial donation can click here.
Eric Milkie, director of emergency assistance services at the Cleveland branch of Catholic Charities, spoke last November about why this ministry matters so much.
“Thanksgiving can be a difficult and stressful time for individuals and families who don’t know where their next meal is coming from,” he said, according to a Nov. 8, 2024, Catholic Charities press release. “We are grateful for the gracious support of vital partners and volunteers who spend their holiday joining in service at the St. Augustine Hunger Center.”
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