[Toledo, OH] United Way of Greater Toledo is pleased to announce the United for the Holidays program for the 2024 holiday season. For the third year in a row, 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. This annual program brings together corporate sponsors, over 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% 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 volunteers in our community will 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. 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,” stated Wendy Pestrue, CEO of United Way of Greater Toledo.
“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.”
The first events of the series will be held on Wednesday, November 13th at the Islamic Food Bank located at 1804 Monroe St, Toledo, OH 43604, and Thursday, November 14th at the Grace Community Center Food Pantry located at 406 W Delaware, Toledo, OH 43610. Food box packing events will continue through Monday, November 25th, and boxes will be distributed to local partners that serve families in need throughout our 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.
We are grateful to all our sponsors, whose support makes United for the Holidays possible! Thank you to Stellantis, FedEx, Eastman & Smith, The Andersons, Inc., Toledo Refining Company, FocusCFO, Hylant, Huntington Bank, Pat and MaryLouise Bowe, SSOE Group, UToledo Health, and Waterford Bank, N.A.
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 can reach 211 locally by calling 211, visiting 211nwo.org, or texting your zip code to 898-211.
MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES
Members of the media are welcome at any holiday food box building event. However, United Way of Greater Toledo staff and representatives from our event sponsors will be on-site and prepared for interviews during the dates and times below.
To schedule in advance of any date, please contact Erin Tupper at Erin.Tupper@UnitedWayToledo.org or or 419-254-4785.
Date: Wednesday, November 13, 2024
Time: 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Location: Islamic Food Bank, 1804 Monroe St, Toledo, OH 43604
Date: Thursday, November 14, 2024
Time: 11:00 – 12:30 p.m.
Location: Grace Community Center, 406 W. Delaware, Toledo, OH 43615
Date: Thursday, November 21, 2024
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Location: Brown Bag Food Project, 530 Sand Ridge Road, Bowling Green, OH 43402
Date: Monday, November 25, 2024
Time: 8:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Location: BCS Food Pantry at St. Paul UCC, 165 N. Toussaint St. Oak Harbor, OH 43449
Date: Monday, November 25, 2024
Time: 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. / 4:30 – 5:30 p.m.
Location: Islamic Food Bank, 1804 Monroe St, Toledo, OH 43604, Perrysburg Heights Community Center, 12282 Jefferson St, Perrysburg, OH 43551
Details: Perrysburg Township Fire Department loading truck at Islamic Food Bank (11:30- noon), distribution to Wood County residents takes place at Perrysburg Heights Community Center (4:30-5:30 p.m.)
CONTACT: Erin Tupper, Senior Director of Outreach and Advancement – erin.tupper@unitedwaytoledo.org or 419-254-4785
United Way of Greater Toledo mobilizes communities to expand education, stabilize finances, improve health, and provide housing so that every family can thrive. Through shared funding, expertise, and data, we close gaps and open opportunities throughout Lucas, Ottawa, and Wood counties. We unite the power of community to improve lives. United Way of Greater Toledo brings a worldwide network into neighborhoods throughout Northwest Ohio. Proudly serving residents of Lucas, Ottawa, and Wood counties, since 1918 we have believed that we all benefit from each other’s success. As one of the longest-serving charitable organizations in our region, we are trusted, innovative, collaborative and accountable. Most importantly, your contributions serve neighbors right here at home.
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