Wooster Hope Center hosts Thanksgiving dinner

  • By Angela Bases
  • October 30, 2011
  • 392
                        
Summary: The Wooster Hope Center is hosting the first Community Thanksgiving Dinner at Wooster Community Center on Nov. 19. The purpose of the event is to give thanks to the generous community members that have supported them while filling a need by providing the meal. Reservations can be made at the Nov. 12 food drive. The Wooster Hope Center (WHC) capitalizes on what makes Wayne County communities so special—the people that inhabit them. Driven by volunteers and donations, the WHC taps into an individual’s innate desire to help. They host monthly food and hygiene drives while supporting wrap around services. The WHC offers social service fairs at their food drives and free hair cuts at both drives. Coupled with free lunches and clothing, they provide many basic needs to community members. On Nov. 19, however, they are going above and beyond the basic needs and appreciating the community that has supported their mission. The Community Thanksgiving Dinner will be held at Wooster Community Center, 241 S. Bever St. in Wooster, from 10:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Reservations can be made at their food distribution at the Wayne County Fairgrounds on Saturday, Nov. 12 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. “The people can come down to the fairgrounds on Nov. 12 (and) they can reserve a time for the free community thanksgiving dinner, and they can get 60 to 80 pounds of food while they’re down there. It’s kind of a win-win,” explained Richard Frazier, director of the WHC and pastor at DayBreak Community Church. October’s distribution offered 27,000 pounds of food for Wayne County community members that fall within 200 percent of the poverty level. “The food stamp cutoff is around 165 percent. 200 percent poverty level is still considered low income. So there’s 35 percent in there that’s not receiving food assistance. That represents 17,000 people in Wayne County,” Frazier continued. The WHC is reaching between 350 and 400 families each month at about $3.00 per household. All of it stays within the community. “For the community dinner, they don’t even have to fall within the 200 percent poverty level. We just wanted to give something back to the community. This is giving thanks to the community for what has been started here and what has been established,” Frazier said. At the dinner, attendees will have the choice between turkey and pork, mashed potatoes and sweet potatoes, noodles and dressing and corn and green bean casserole. Each attendee will also receive a roll and a piece of pie. Beverages will be provided. “I sent the e-mail out and within 5 days we had it covered. This community is great,” Frazier added. “The Wooster Hope Center stands for people working together. We are the means to make a difference in this community. And it’s the people; the federal funding will come and go, but the people will not. So we need to focus on that.” Further, the meal could not be prepared without the generous donations from DayBreak Community Church, Parkview Christian Church, Apostolic Christian Church, St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Christian Children’s Home of Ohio, Arby’s, Flinner Construction, employees of First Merit Bank and Smith Dairy. Knights of Columbus also offered their space for the dinner, which was very appreciated by the WHC. “Right now, a need I can’t help—I’ve had about 30 calls in the last week, with people asking for help for utilities,” Frazier said. According to Frazier, some of those individuals may have already used up funds from other organizations, or the funds have been depleted. Frazier is open to any innovative ideas or partnerships, as well as anyone who would like to volunteer. Those interested can call him at 330-683-2242 or e-mail him at woosterhopecenter@gmail.com. The WHC also offers a mailing list to connect community members with the cause. Additionally, the community meal was developed on a smaller scale, and is now prepared to host 400 people. Frazier said he approached the WHC Community Advisory Committee, which includes Jean Boen, Judy Harland, David Lohnes, Joe Rubino and Jamie Jackson, and they supported the idea, as such an event is woven within the benevolent fabric of the WHC. “We have a good continuum of care here in Wayne County. However, the true continuum of care is with each and every person that lives in this county. They’re the real continuum of care. Let’s get them involved. There are everyday people out there that want to help out,” Frazier concluded. There will not be a December food distribution and social services fair, the last of the year will be Nov. 12. There will be a hygiene and clothing distribution on Dec. 17. Before then, the WHC could use women's deodorant, shampoo, size 4 diapers, tooth brushes, disposable razors, mouthwash, tampons, toilet paper and conditioner. They accept all donations every Monday and Wednesday from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at DayBreak Community Church, 111 S. Buckeye St. in Wooster.


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