As the United Way of Van Wert County celebrates its 100th year of service, we are also celebrating the 24th year of the now renamed Vantage Day of Caring! The event is set for September 30th-October 1st, 2022. Food barrels will be placed at many industries and businesses throughout town the 2nd week of September. The public will be able to donate anytime until Friday, September 30th when the barrels are picked up. Sorting will then take place at Vantage Career Center. The goal for this year’s event is 100,000 items for 100 years! A collaboration will take place between local organizations and food will be disbursed between the Salvation Army, Trinity Friends Church, and the Van Wert Cooperative Ministries Food Pantry.
We will also be having our “Stuff the Truck” event at Walmart and Chief Supermarket on Saturday, September 17th from 10am – 4pm, and Sunday, September 18th from 12-4pm. There, we will be collecting top-needed pantry items from customers at the entrance doors with assistance provided by local emergency responders and Vantage students. Some people will shop for these items and others will make cash donations which will be put on account for the pantries to purchase food at the West Ohio Food Bank.
The annual Red Cross Blood Drive will be held at Trinity Friends Church on that Friday, September 30th as well, with a goal of 131 units of blood. The drive is from 8 am to 6 pm. Red Cross is proudly partnering with Vantage Career Center again this year. To schedule your blood donation appointment, call 1-800-RED-CROSS or go to redcrossblood.org, use sponsor code “vwdoc”.
On Saturday, October 1st, there will be a Mobile Food Pantry distribution at Trinity Friends Church from 9 am – 11 am. Food will be provided by West Ohio Food Bank and distributed by volunteers from Danfoss. Participants will be asked to show a valid photo I.D.
We hope you’ll join us at one or all of these events and help us stay United in Caring.