In the wake of a 50 percent cut in funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) this year, many individuals and organizations, such as The Andersons and Faurecia, have made cash donations up to $3,000 to the kitchen.

“All of our program numbers are up significantly this year,” says Paul Cook, Helping Hands director. “We couldn’t have done this without the help of our local supporters who stepped up to fill in the gap.”

The clientele of Helping Hands is younger than it has been in the past and the number of first-time clients has significantly risen this year, he adds.

Helping Hands provides a hot lunch Monday through Friday and breakfast three days a week.  The outreach center also hosts a food pantry and a clothing store and gives out hygiene products.  Immediate needs as the new year begins include donated meats, fruits, vegetables, canned foods and cash.

Generous community members recently made it possible for Helping Hands to provide Christmas food baskets to families in need.

After asking for donations of 100 boneless hams for the baskets, the soup kitchen was inundated with 500 hams within a week. The extra hams are to be frozen and used at the soup kitchen to help serve 300 lunches daily.

The soup kitchen also sought and received a donated used van in good condition to pick up large quantities of food donations from 15 sites in the area each week, including local stores, restaurants and farms.

Those wishing to make a donation may contact director Paul Cook at 419-691-0613 or 419-351-8304.

The soup kitchen, located at 443 Sixth St., is seeking donations of 100 boneless hams and boxes of instant mashed potatoes by Dec. 9, for food baskets that provide an entire holiday meal for families in need.

Helping Hands of St. Louis is also in need of a donated used van in good condition to pick up large quantities of food donations from local stores, restaurants and farms. The soup kitchen picks up donations from 15 sites in Toledo each week and is seeking assistance to replace its aging vehicle.

Hams and mashed potatoes for Christmas baskets man be dropped off at the center weekdays between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., or call 419-691-0613 to schedule a delivery during an evening or weekend.

Helping Hands has provided 100 families with Christmas food baskets for 29 years. The baskets also include sweet potatoes, vegetables, dressing, cereal, milk and fruit. On a weekly basis, the soup kitchen provides up to 100 people with breakfast Monday, Wednesday and Friday and serves an average of 300 lunches each day Monday through Friday.

Items needed include: diapers, newborn through size 5; powdered formula, Similac Advance and Similac Sensitive Isomil Soy; baby wipes; baby wash, lotion, powder and diaper rash ointment; new and gently used winter clothes, sizes 0-6 months; boys clothing up to size 2T; outerwear, especially coats, snowsuits, boots, and mittens (up to size 2T); receiving blankets; hooded bath towels and washcloths; and gently used high chairs and strollers including the umbrella type.

Heartbeat distributes these baby items through its Heart to Heart Parent Learning Program as well as through its Emergency Services Program and Layettes for Newborns Service.

“We are pleased to support Heartbeat and the work they do by holding a baby supply drive on their behalf,” says Andrew Wooley, prolife director for the Knights of Columbus River East Mother Teresa Council 14344.

With all the fanfare of a pep rally and a football tailgate party, the OSU Student Life Team arrived early Aug. 17 to set up for an enthusiastic reception for Dr. Gee. With spirited music playing and cheers of “O-H-I-O” being done by the sisters, residents and others, Dr. Gee received a warm welcome to the home.

E. Gordon Gee, president of the Ohio State University, shows off a new bow tie with the Little Sisters of the Poor logo on one side and OSU on the other given to him by Mother Cecilia Sartorius. Dr. Gee visited the Little Sisters' Sacred Heart Home in August. (Photo courtesy of Little sisters of the Poor)

The visit stemmed from a gaffe Dr. Gee made last fall, when he commented to the effect that OSU didn’t play “Little Sisters of the Poor Teams.” Dr. Gee apologized for his mistake and said publicly that he didn’t truly know that the Little Sisters of the Poor even existed.  As a way to make up for his error, Dr. Gee promised to visit the Little Sisters and have them down to OSU for a football game.

The sisters can now be assured, after his visit to the Sacred Heart Home, that Dr. Gee not only knows the Little Sisters do exist, but flourish in their mission of caring for the elderly poor.

In a spirited day full of smiles and cheers, Dr. Gee and others from OSU toured the home and met many of the elderly residents.

On meeting one resident, Mary Zsigray, 101, Dr. Gee exclaimed. “Whatever she’s drinking, I’m going to start drinking!”

Little Sister of the Poor Mother Cecilia Mary Sartorius said Dr. Gee was able to experience the happiness of the home’s residents and understand more deeply the mission of the Little Sisters. She added that “sometimes out of inadvertent humor comes great deeds.”

Dr. Gee promised to continue an ongoing collaboration of OSU with the Little Sisters. In the short term this new friendship has brought about much needed public awareness of the sisters’ mission of caring for the elderly poor.  The local OSU extension office of Lucas County has also agreed to offer nutrition awareness and diabetes classes to residents and hold a pruning workshop on the grounds of the home in the future. In addition, the OSU extension offices will hold a fundraiser for the Little Sisters in December.

At a press conference during Dr. Gee’s visit, Mother Sartorius commented that while the alumni of the Little Sisters pass on to heaven, the alumni of OSU could benefit by donating their support to the Little Sisters and in turn they would be prayed for so that they too would someday join the Little Sisters alumni. As the crowd laughed and cheered, Mother Sartorius whispered to Dr. Gee and he said, “Did you hear that, I’m forgiven!”

The sisters presented Dr. Gee with a handmade bow tie to add to his collection. The bow tie had the Little Sisters logo embroidered on one side and “OSU” on the other. Dr. Gee, who has more than 2,000 bow ties, commented that this bow tie “may be the most important because it has my redemption written all over it.”  He ended by saying that he plans to continue his relationship with the Little Sisters “now that my day of penance is over.”

The Little Sisters are now preparing to attend an OSU football game Sept. 10, traveling with some residents to Columbus as guests of Dr. Gee.

Little Sister of the Poor Ceclia Sartorius, local administrator, and Margaret Banar, travelled to Columbus to receive a public recognition for the 125th anniversary of Little Sisters serving the elderly poor of Ohio at Sacred Heart Home in Oregon.

Little Sister of the Poor Mother Cecilia Sartorius accepts a state proclamation in recognition of the sisters’ 125 years of service to the elderly poor in Oregon. State Rep. Matthew A. Szollosi and The Ohio State University president E. Gordon Gee joined her on the State of Ohio House Floor. (Photo courtesy of Little Sisters of the Poor)

The public recognition in the State House was made possible through the efforts of State Rep. Matthew A. Szollosi (D-Toledo), who recognized the Toledo Little Sisters of the Poor on the Ohio House floor for their 125 years of providing care for the elderly poor of their community.

“I cannot overstate the respect I have for the work the Little Sisters does in caring for the elderly, so that their residents can live with dignity and respect and independence,” Rep. Szollosi said.

E. Gordon Gee, president of The Ohio State University, introduced the sisters on the floor of the Senate. His remarks were humorous and heartfelt as he described his new relationship as a supporter of the Little Sisters of the Poor.

“Mr. Speaker, I had no idea they didn’t have a football team!” Mr. Gee joked. “But, since my comment I’ve learned much about the Little Sisters and the important work that they do and I’m delighted to help.” He commended the Little Sisters for their strength and commitment.

“Thank you on behalf of Little Sisters of the Poor throughout Toledo, the U.S. and the world,” said Sr. Sartorius upon receiving the proclamation. “We work hard to take care of the elderly poor because they are people who have worked hard to build Ohio. But we don’t do it alone and rely on your assistance. I’m glad we have some great new friends to help us with that.”

Since Mr. Gee’s comment last fall, his relationship with the Little Sisters has blossomed, with frequent dialogue between the two on how the university can assist the Little Sisters in their efforts with the elderly. The Little Sisters are to be honored on Sept. 10 during a football game in Columbus between Ohio State and the University of Toledo, when Mr. Gee plans to seek donations to assist the Little Sisters’ efforts.