More than 100 volunteers stepped up to help build meals for community residents in need Monday morning at Franciscan University of Steubenville’s Christ the Teacher Hall. Organized by the United Way of Jefferson County, the event packaged 38,000 freeze-dried, family-sized meals consisting of vegetable and rice soup. Photo by Julie Stenger

STEUBENVILLE — While the nation was facing political disagreements and economic uncertainty throughout the month of November, one local nonprofit said it was willing to step up and ask Jefferson County to do something about it for area residents.

And on Monday morning, that is exactly what they did.

The United Way of Jefferson County made a plea to residents to help their neighbors in need. The effects of the recent month-long government shutdown left local families struggling, resulting in the halt of military pay and the pausing of SNAP benefits for more than 42 million Americans. Several of those families reside here in the Ohio Valley.

Hope, however, emerged from a timely decision made by the agency, led by Executive Director Marci Crawford.

The United Way participated in the national Meals of Hope program, providing thousands of freeze-dried meals to area food pantries, churches and organizations for distribution.

The event took place at Christ the Teacher Hall on the campus of the Franciscan University of Steubenville.

“The timing was unbelievable,” Crawford said, noting she discovered an e-mail shortly after taking over her role in July about the Meals of Hope program. Recognizing the growing need caused by the shutdown, which ran from Oct. 1 through Nov. 12, and the fact fewer food items were being distributed at other nonprofits, she reached out to coordinate a massive meal-packing event.

The concept was simple: Raise enough money to purchase ingredients from Meals of Hope, then gather volunteers to assemble and package the meals for local distribution.

More than 100 volunteers arrived at the university to form assembly lines, with nine to 10 people working per table, adding one ingredient each to make a family-sized meal of vegetable and rice soup.

Crawford first reached out to Joe Wallace, director of community relations at Franciscan University, who told participants on Monday, “Marci called me about the event and her energy and excitement to get this done was all I needed.”

“Our job today is to help those in need,” Wallace added. “This project will be transformational and provide hope for our community.”

Franciscan University partnered with the United Way on the endeavor.

The initiative was critical for local pantries, including the Saline Township Food Pantry, the Helping Hands Food Pantry in Toronto, Smithfield Food Pantry, WEBA Food Pantry in Amsterdam and the Urban Mission Ministries in Steubenville.

The project secured vital early funding, as Crawford addressed Jefferson County commissioners, explaining the cost structure where 15,000 meals were purchased for $6,500. She secured the necessary funds when the commissioners contributed $5,000, which, when combined with donations from AEP ($1,500) and McBane Insurance ($250), met the initial goal.

But it didn’t stop there. Wallace announced during the event the United Way had received enough donations to prepare 38,000 meals for those needing assistance.

“This isn’t just about food,” Crawford exclaimed. “It’s about hope. It’s about neighbors helping neighbors. And showing that Jefferson County steps up when it matters most.”

Crawford stated on Monday the turnout was amazing.

“I did this to make people realize that anything is possible when the community can come together and literally build meals for people in need and that these meals could possibly be on someone’s table tonight,” she exclaimed.

Among those in attendance was Steubenville resident and Steubenville Kiwanis Club member Tom Timmons, a longtime United Way volunteer and board member.

Timmons stated he was there because this is the season of giving.

“It’s Christmas and I just wanted to give back to the community,” he said. “We think about the lights and the presents, but we need to think about helping those who are less fortunate. That is the true meaning of Christmas.”

Bobbyjon Bauman, executive director of the Sycamore Youth Center, was among those who participated in the assembly line, doing his part to help residents in need.

Bauman helps people every day of the year, and this was just another way he could offer his services to the community.

“The United Way is a blessing in this community,” he said. “It supports the youth at the Sycamore Youth Center and it is just a blessing to be able to give back.” Sycamore feeds students at East Garfield Elementary School every weekend, making sure families have enough groceries for the weekend while the children are not in school.

“The name says it all,” commented Cookie West, community and public relations specialist for the Jefferson County Board of Developmental Disabilities.

West said by people showing up to do their part in the project is to show those who may have no hope that people really do care about them.

“When families are sharing these meals, they will be able to see that the community really does care about them,” she continued. “Every package, every ingredient is saturated in love. There is a sense of joy in the Christ the Teacher building, an excitement knowing families will feel that love through these packages.”

West noted the different and diverse groups working at the event, including young adults and senior citizens, business owners and community volunteers.

“This is about boots on the ground,” West concluded. “It’s about giving your time to do this for your neighbors. I see people laughing and talking and having conversations, standing together and locking arms for the same purpose. I see it and it is wonderful.”

WTOV-TV also was a partner in the event.