In no particular order, from left, the board and volunteers from the Southern Community Center of Salineville stand outside their food pantry location at 34A Washington Street: Scott Hart, president; James Ryan Smith; Brian Zaverl, trustee; Brian Bentley; Donald Benedict; Dick Clark; Jennifer Groves, secretary; John Higgins; and Pastor John Finch. In the front row, Linda Adams, trustee; Jordan Jones; Tammy Newbold; Brenda Rose; Pam Tedeschi; Becky Lohman, vice president; Carol Higgins, treasurer; Gert Benedict, trustee, and Ian Wellington. Not pictured are volunteers Kendra Rose, Ann Lewis, Kim Dunlope, Tim Carr and Pam Carr. They are in the midst of collecting food so low income families can enjoy a Thanksgiving meal. (Submitted photo)

SALINEVILLE — Scott Hart anticipates that at least 200 families will need assistance with their Thanksgiving meals this year, so he is asking for the community’s help.

Hart, president of the Southern Community Center of Salineville’s board of directors, is looking for 200 turkeys (12 to 16 pounds each), 200 5-pound bags of potatoes, 400 cans of vegetables (two for each household), 200 cake mixes, 200 pounds of butter, 200 cans of yams, 200 batches of bread, biscuits or rolls (one per household), 400 gravy packets (two per household) and 400 boxes of stuffing (or enough for two per household).

To either make a monetary or food donation, Hart asks that you either reach out to the charity’s Facebook page via direct message or call him at 330-853-7777 to arrange pickup of your items by Wednesday, Nov. 13.

The actual Thanksgiving food distribution will be held at 10 a.m. to noon on Nov. 16.

The organization also offer turkey or ham dinners at Easter and Christmas for low income families, as well as monthly food giveaways on the third Saturday of every month (10 a.m. to noon during the winter months) at their brick-and-mortar location, 34A Washington St., which is next to the Salineville fire station.

Right after their Thanksgiving distribution wraps up, he anticipates volunteers will need to start right on Christmas dinner boxes.

Hart said the food pantry has been there since 1973. Several years ago, the then-mayor asked him to assume oversight of the center, which had an aging volunteer base. He agreed and has grown the current service of the 14 regular households to anywhere from 150 to 175 households per month.

He agrees there is definitely a need — especially in the post-pandemic economy.

Although the nonprofit gets a great deal of its food at a discounted rate through Second Harvest, prices are still up even then.

In the case of Salineville’s elderly population, often their choice is to either buy food to eat or purchase their much needed medication.

During the recent Salineville Head Start Trunk or Treat, the center’s volunteers could be seen cooking hot dogs for the kids, 175 estimated. However, Hart said they distributed hats, gloves and socks to 75 kids.

Checks can be mailed to Southern Community Center Food Pantry, 34A Washington St., Salineville OH 43945.