Letters To The Editor Week Of 11/1/2021
Continuing levy
To the editor: Voters in the Benton-Carroll-Salem School District should be aware that the 4.33-mill levy on the Nov. 2 ballot isn’t an exact renewal of the current levy.
While it is a renewal request for the same millage, the current levy has a five-year limit. The proposed levy is for a continuing period of time, meaning there is no limit to how long it will be in effect if passed.
Jim Benadom
Oak Harbor
Pantry upgrade
To the editor: The Genoa Area Community Food Pantry recently completed a project to upgrade the pantry’s product handling equipment.
In 2020, the food pantry board identified the need to upgrade the food pantry’s equipment. A project plan was approved and a grant application to the Ottawa County Community Foundation was submitted in March 2021 for project funding. In June 2021, the Ottawa County Community Foundation provided a grant to fund the project.
New commercial material handling carts, storage bins, and wagon carts were purchased to more safely and efficiently transport food pantry products both into the pantry, and out to the patron’s vehicles on distribution days. The new equipment has been in-service for four months. The project has directly benefited the safety of the volunteers who support food pantry operations. The volunteer feedback has been very positive!
This project was made possible in part by a grant from the Ottawa County Community Foundation.
The pantry is a community effort, supported by local churches, to aid and assist persons in need within the Genoa Ohio Area School District. The pantry was established in 1980 by Trinity United Methodist Church. In 1998, additional Genoa area churches began supporting food pantry operations. In 2013, the food pantry moved to the lower level of the Apostolic Restoration Center (ARC) at 303. W. Fourth St. Genoa.
Currently, the food pantry is supported by the following six Genoa area churches: Apostolic Restoration Center, Genoa Christian Church, Our Lady of Lourdes, St. John Lutheran Church in Williston, St. John’s United Church of Christ, and Trinity United Methodist Church.
The mission of the food pantry is to eliminate food insecurity in the Genoa area by providing residents in need with programs that provide food, promote the value of nutrition, increase self-sufficiency, and instill hope.
The current food pantry programs and services include the following:
-Monthly food and household essential item distributions to residents in need. The food pantry provides distributions on the third Saturday of every month.
-Emergency food and household essential item distributions to residents in need.
-Enabling high school seniors to volunteer hours to complete their community service requirement.
For more information visit the foundation’s website at www.ottawaccf.org.
Dave Imlay
Purchase Agent,
Genoa Area Community Food Pantry