Food For Thought

Food For Thought is collecting NEW, UNwrapped toys to provide Christmas presents for those less fortunate.

Now through December 12th, we will be collecting these items (a suggested list is below) through drives at local businesses and churches, and also through drop-offs at New Harvest Christian Church, 3540 Seaman Road, Oregon, OH 43616.  

These toys will be distributed through a special Christmas Shoppe, also at New Harvest Christian Church, on Saturday, December 19th.

The families that shop at our food pantry will have the opportunity to shop (for free) for the toys they feel their children will enjoy the most.

Last month, families representing 1,244 children shopped through our pantry.  While every family won’t apply to be a part of our store, we still anticipate requests for at least 400-500 children.  

Toy Suggestions:

• Action Figures
• Arts and Crafts items
• Barbie and other dolls
• Beauty items (for older girls)
• Board Games
• Books
• Cars, trucks and accessories
• Handheld video games
• Legos/Blocks
• Play Doh
• Puzzles
• Sports items (for older boys)
• Stuffed Animals

Please no wrapped, used, violent or suggestive toys.   

The need is great.  Please help out by donating some toys, and organizing a collection through your office, school or church.

We are also accepting cash donations, and will shop closer to the “Shoppe” date to fill holes in inventory.

We are in need of volunteers to help sort the toys and help the families shop through that day.  We would also love for a church or other group to partner with us to do wrapping and/or treats for that day.

Doesn’t that sound like a great Christmas project?  Contact Tana Schiewer, our Executive Director with any questions you may have and how you can spread your own cheer this holiday season.

Empty out those piggy banks!  Join us in supporting Food For Thought by participating in Penny Wars and collecting coins for a cause.  You can start right away by pitting University of Michigan and Ohio State University fans against each other.  It’s healthy competition to help our brothers and sisters in need.

The 411

The concept is very simple:

• You can compete as individuals or teams.
• Collect pennies (or nickels, dimes, quarters, Susan B. Anthony’s) in decorated containers.
• The contest can last as long as you like – one day to one month.
• At the end of the contest, whoever collects the most money wins.

There is one catch–

• Participants can deposit paper money into the opposing team’s container which negates the corresponding coins in that jar.
• In other words, if I put one dollar into the OSU container, one dollar is subtracted from their coinage total.

Muahahaha.

Sounds like fun, huh?

If you’re interested, join us by sending an e-mail to our Marketing Director, Amanda Aldrich, and let us know about your participation.

Here’s a handy flyer to distribute to all your family and friends to initiate their own penny wars program.

May the best Wolverine..er, I mean..team win!