Group driven to restock food banks

By SHELLEY TERRY - Staff Writer - sterry@starbeacon.com
Star Beacon

December 02, 2008 07:32 pm

— ASHTABULA — Food banks across Ashtabula County are scrambling to restock their shelves in time for the holiday rush.
Many found themselves depleted because of the economic downturn, fuel prices, higher grocery bills and recent area layoffs. Consequently, the Ashtabula Downtown Development Association has organized a food drive for canned goods.
“The food pantries need our help,” Ward 4 Councilwoman Julie Lattimer said. “Participating downtown merchants have a sign in their window so people will know where to drop off their nonperishable food and toiletries.”
Participating businesses and their representatives include: A. Louis Supply, Rick Coblitz; All State, Kristen Daubenspeck; Ashtabula City, Clerk of Council LaVette Hennigan; Broken Dreams Cafe, Darrell Hamilton; Play All, Rob Rich; Casa Capelli, Oscar Tomasio; Ashtabula Area Chamber of Commerce, Jim Timonere; Franklin Blair Title Agency, Debra Blair; Kathy’s Beauty Shoppe, Kathy Cox; Iron Dragon Martial Arts, Rick Thomas; Huntington Bank, Pat Shells; Key Bank, Mary Lou Howe; Michaels Furniture, Lynda Annick; Russell Upholstery, Ivan Russell; Ashtabula Senior Center, Troy Bailey; Ultimate Appearance, Suzanne Kist; Warren and Young; Deborah Cumberland; Your Special Place, Fran Hanselman, and e-Comm Cafe, John Ginnard.
A representative from Messiah Lutheran’s Lend a Hand ministry will be collecting the food throughout the next few weeks and distributing it to all of the food pantries within the city of Ashtabula.
The eight food pantries are: G. O. Ministries, Salvation Army, St. Joseph's Neighbor-to-Neighbor, Dream Center, Lend a Hand, Faith Lutheran, Messiah Lutheran Lend a Hand and New Hope.