The City Mission Hosts Annual Holiday Food Drive and Turkey Round-Up

Online, November 2, 2011 (Newswire.com) - The City Mission has launched its annual holiday food drive. During this holiday giving season, the Cleveland charity is accepting donations of food items or monetary gifts to purchase food items to purchase food for baskets to be distributed to needy families in the community.

A total of at least $35,000 in food items or cash donations are needed to help The City Mission prepare and distribute 1,000 baskets filled with donated food to needy families just before Christmas. The baskets provide not only what is needed for a holiday meal but also food staples to help the family get through the rest of the month.

New this year is a "Turkey Roundup" campaign designed for groups or companies to easily conduct a collection if they cannot transport food donations to the Mission. Individuals can "sponsor a turkey" for $15.00.

Businesses, churches, organizations and individuals are encouraged to donate needed items: tuna, Tuna Helper, oatmeal, Minute Rice, green beans, baked beans, chicken noodle soup, ramen noodles, canned pasta, macaroni and cheese, instant potatoes, stuffing, powdered drink mix, peanut butter and jelly. Frozen turkeys (10-12 lbs) will complete the food baskets. Due to a lack of storage space, the majority will be purchased by the Mission in bulk using cash donations just before the distribution.

"During a time that most of us find joyous, many families who are in need continue to struggle," said Richard Trickel, chief executive officer of The City Mission. "By giving the simple gift of food, we can provide hope to needy families throughout Cleveland."

Donations of food items will be accepted November 15 through 30 at The City Mission's downtown campus and at Laura's Home. Those delivering frozen turkeys are asked to call the Mission to make arrangements to ensure safe handling.

On November 16, 2011, Walthall, Drake and Wallace LLP CPAs (WDW) and the Cuyahoga Valley Chamber of Commerce will hold a special collection event for non-perishable food items in Independence, Ohio. Companies in the area are encouraged to hold a food drive for their employees and bring the donations to the parking lot behind WDW's building at 6300 Rockside Road from 8 am to 10 am, or to Chamber's luncheon at the Holiday Inn at 6001 Rockside Road from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm. Volunteers then will transport the donations to the Mission's Carnegie campus.

Those wishing to donate monetarily toward the Cleveland holiday food drive or The City Mission's homeless programs can give online or through the mail. Donations will help cover the cost of food items purchased for holiday food baskets and the Cleveland charity's annual holiday meal for clients of the Mission's four major programs.

Purchasing food for the baskets in bulk is estimated at $35.00 per basket, which includes $15.00 for the turkey. In addition, meals served at the Mission cost on average $1.70 each. During the holiday season through the end of the year, the Mission will serve at least 22,000 meals to those staying at its Crossroads Men's Crisis Center or Laura's Home Women's Crisis Center.

Checks to be used toward the holiday meal can be made payable to The City Mission and mailed to The City Mission (Holiday Food Drive), 5310 Carnegie Ave., Cleveland, OH 44103.

Donations for holiday giving are also accepted online through the Denver Mattress online giving program November 10 through 24. Donations at this website will be matched up to $2,500 but donors must specify that their gift is for The City Mission.
Donations also can be made through The City Mission website year-round. Please visit the website for posters and materials to use to promote community involvement.

The City Mission is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing services and programs to support those in need and help them transition during difficult times. The City Mission is a Cleveland charity based in Ohio, dedicated to helping crisis victims and giving disadvantaged people the opportunity to move from poverty and dependency to stability, growth and productivity. This may include the homeless, recent inmates, those who have been victims of natural disasters or fires or those with nowhere else to go. With specific programs for men, women and youth who are homeless or struggling in poverty, The City Mission provides help and hope to all people through the transforming power of God's love. You can learn more about The City Mission by visiting thecitymission.org.