What started as a simple visit to check in our friends at Ohio Department of Job and Family Services here in Bryan, led to one of the most inspiring movements we’ve had the privilege to be a part of!
We got connected to a local family that has a special needs child and found out that securing sensory-friendly foods for these kids was hard to find at local pantries.
So we put out an SOS and the response that we received was nothing short of miraculous.
First, a huge THANK YOU to Tom & Cindy Reed for a $2000 donation that enabled us to purchase enough food to make 30 boxes that will feed a family of 4-6 for a week!!!
Second, local businesses like Potter Inc, and Altenloh, Brinck & Co. US, Inc. stepped up and provided all the boxes! Thank you!
Next, a big thank you to Chip Wood at Bryan Ford Lincoln for loaning us a truck to make a Costco run, and finally our United Way Board members, Christina Englehart, Joan Miller, who also made a generous donation, Dee Custar, Misty King, Tom Reed, and Tonya Heston who volunteered to help pack all the boxes!!! And we would be remiss to not mention Andy Kirby who helped with all the shopping, loading and unloading, making deliveries and just being an all around great guy who is always ready to lend his time and energy!
Our local pantries are incredible, and they are doing so much during these tumulutous times, so we were so happy to connect with these families , help relieve some of the strain on our pantries, and provide these safe foods when these families need it most.
No child should go hungry, and while this is something that we’ve never done before, it was so humbling to be a part of the solution and to see our communities come together.
If you’d like to get involved, reach out and learn how you can join The United Way of Williams County in service to our community.