Hunger Centers Bare: Cleveland's and Tremont's St. Augustine Church in dire need of food donations.

St. Augustine Catholic Church Tremont

Thanksgiving is coming and we all are thankful for the food when there is plenty. If you read a story about empty food pantries around Cleveland in Sunday's Plain Dealer or watched a recent story on Newschannel 5 - WEWS TV, then you may have heard that many of Cleveland's Church based Hunger Center's cupboards are bare and right before Thanksgiving. One in particular that was brought to my attention by a co-worker who watched the story on TV5 is St. Augustine's Roman Catholic Church and Hunger Center in Historic Tremont. They are not only 500 turkeys short of what they need for Thanksgiving, but their weekly cupboard is woefully empty. In these tough econonmic times, the very people who might donate to the cause may now be on the receiving end. A list of everyday and Thanksgiving food items they need follows this article and are items you might find in your own cupboard to drop off, but I suggest you contact them first to make arrangements to do so, at the numbers included. Also, so that you can be sure you are donating appropriate items they can handle.

All photos courtesy of St. Augustine's website.

This Pop Culture examiner grew up in a "Baby Boomer" environment where everything seemed plentiful and our parents, both sons and daughters of the Great Depression, couldn't believe the good fortune we enjoyed in the 60's. Now, I think it is a great surprise to many of them that they would ever see times as desperate as these, again. So, while some cried "Humbug" during the recent election about "Sharing the Wealth", the less fortunate need everyone's help. And the less fortunate can include anyone is this era. A laid-off airline pilot, a bank teller, a flight attendant, an autoworker, an auto salesman, people who like most of us thought job security and the ability to put food on the table was in their professions, a given. An out of work airline pilot? Unthinkable, for most of my life. So, at a grass roots level, if we can take a few cans of food to our local churches who take such collections, or make a small donation so that a turkey might be purchased, 'tis the season like no other that I can remember, even if some of our parents can. If you're not sure where to start, St. Augustine's would be more than grateful. However, I can not put words in their mouths while they are trying to put food in the mouths of those who are suddenly needy, so I have taken the liberty of lifting some of their history and the inspiration they serve up to everyone, from their website:

"St. Augustine Hunger Center is an outgrowth of the ministry and service of St. Augustine Church. This parish has a long history of service from it's beginning in 1860 when it welcomed an impoverished immigrant community.
It provided food for the poor during the depression and hard economic times. The Hunger Center was founded as part of that outreach 35 years ago.
The Hunger Center not only provides meals but addresses other needs of the poor and the homeless such as, food, clothing, emergency funding for rent and utilities, furniture, appliances as well as advocation for those poor seeking medical help.
The Hunger center is a response to the human need. Our prayer is that with support and help of the larger community we will be able to serve needy people in accordance with our mission and as completely as possible."

St Augustine Roman Catholic Church, 2486 West 14th Street, Cleveland, Ohio 44113
216-781-5530
fax 216-781-1124
St. Augustine. Items Needed:
 
Tuna (probably mayo too)
Jelly
Bread
Soup
Mac & Cheese
Canned Vegetables
Noodles (sauce)
Cereal (hot and cold)
Ramen Noodles
 
Food for Thanksgiving:
They are currently 500 Turkeys short
Onions
Potatoes
Cornbread
Canned Vegetables
Cranberry Sauce

         St. Augustine's Hunger Center Dining Area