Nourishing Our Neighbors: MCF Joins Forces in the Fight Against Hunger

In the spirit of giving and community support, Marietta Community Foundation is spreading holiday cheer by donating 500 hams to food pantries in Washington County this Christmas season.

The 500 hams were sourced from Warrens IGA, whose collaboration was instrumental in making this initiative a reality. Warrens IGA worked in tandem with Washington County Harvest of Hope to ensure the timely and efficient delivery of these festive contributions.

The following food pantries received hams: Belpre Area Ministries Food Pantry, Beverly-Waterford Food Pantry, Cutler (3-C) Food Pantry, Gospel Mission Food Pantry, Lowell Area Mission Basket (L.A.M.B), Lower Salem (Tri-County) Food Pantry, Greater Marietta Community Food Pantry, New Matamoras Food Pantry, Newport Food Pantry, The Salvation Army, Washington State Community College Food Pantry, and Western Washington County Food Pantry.

This holiday donation is part of Marietta Community Foundation's ongoing commitment to addressing local food insecurity. Throughout the year, MCF actively supports 16 pantries in Washington County through the MCF Dominion Resources Food Pantry Fund, providing quarterly grants to ensure a consistent flow of resources. The Foundation's dedication extends to various initiatives, including the $10,000 Match for Meals campaign, and granting more than $18,000 to 10+ local organizations addressing food insecurity throughout 2023.

Heather Allender, President & CEO of Marietta Community Foundation, expressed her gratitude for the collaboration with Warrens IGA. "This partnership with Warren's IGA was a perfect fit. We approached them about purchasing the hams, and the manager, Mike Morrison, was eager to help. This initiative complements their upcoming efforts to support food pantries."

Warren’s IGA is planning a fruitful evening on December 16th at 7:00 p.m. A Christmas Concert is to be held at the Elizabeth Sudgen Broughton Community Center on State Route 821 in Marietta. Renowned troubadour Skip Ewing will headline the entertainment, promising a night filled with the magic of country music. Tickets are available for $25 and can be conveniently purchased at Warren’s IGA or by calling 740-373-1518. Attendees can embrace the holiday spirit while supporting a great cause—all proceeds from the event will directly benefit Washington County Food Pantries.