CANFIELD — What do you do if you have a family that is faced with food insecurity? You could be part of the working poor — you have a job but don’t make enough to cover all the bills in addition to groceries.

Families in our Valley face this problem monthly. One place that some families turn to is Operation Blessing, which operates out of Canfield Presbyterian Church the third Thursday of every month.

Operation Blessing was founded in 1985 by the Canfield Ministerial Association. Each church in Canfield originally had its own food pantry but decided that the needy could more efficiently be served by merging the food pantries into one organization, which they named Operation Blessing.

Barbara Ivey has been the executive director of Operation Blessing since March 2023. Ivey retired from working as a disability preschool teacher and a friend who had volunteered at Operation Blessing for over 20 years thought she would be a good fit when the organization needed leadership. Ivey said, “I was looking for a rewarding volunteer opportunity.”

Where does the food come from? “Every four months I submit a grocery list to Rulli Brothers, who give us a very good price,” Ivey said. “The list is huge. Once a month, I order perishables.”

They also will receive donations of food from churches and some businesses.

“We are not funded by the government and not affiliated with Second Harvest Food Bank,” she said.

Money for the food comes from financial contributions by individual supporters and from churches.

“Our clients received a nice Thanksgiving bag that included a whole chicken, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, corn, apples donated from White House Fruit Farm, and pumpkin pie,” Ivey said. “We will be handing out a ham for Christmas.

“The expense for groceries has increased significantly. Some people need help desperately.”

This month, there also will be a toy giveaway for families who have pr-registered. A volunteer takes a list of all the ages of children, whether they are a boy or girl, and goes to people she knows who provide her with the funds to buy the toys. Ivey said, “It is quite an undertaking. The volunteer who does this feels that every child should have the kind of Christmas that she had. She’s a force.”

The food and toys will be distributed Dec. 21.

“People are just so grateful,” Ivey said. “I can’t imagine not having enough food to feed my children.”

She tells of one woman who missed the monthly distribution of food due to illness and could barely walk. She asked if she could stop by and pick up whatever they had left as she had quite a few children. Ivey said, “I gave her food and any miscellaneous extras we had left over — she burst into tears.”

“We distribute bags of groceries depending on the number of people in the family. While most families average five or six children, there is one family with 11 children.” In 2022 they served 235 adults and 251 children with food distribution, and 253 children with toy distribution.

Ivey said she truly believes Jesus when he said in the Gospel of Matthew: “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink. . .” Then his followers asked, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?” And Jesus answers, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” Ivey said, “I stand on that.”

Ivey works with 30 volunteers. She said, “they’re phenomenal, and many have been helping for over 30 years. I have a dedicated group of people; some have been working with us since 1985. Most of the volunteers are from the Canfield churches while there are also men from the Knights of Columbus.

Ivey said, “Operation Blessing is a great organization. I am very impressed with what I’ve inherited. I never knew all this went on.” She said their recipients are mostly from Mahoning County, while there are also a few from Trumbull County. “We don’t turn anyone away.”

To contribute to Operation Blessing, send a check to: Operation Blessing, P.O. Box 652, Canfield, OH 44406.

Ivey said, “of every dollar given, 98% goes toward the purchase of food; we’re almost at 99%.”

news@vindy.com