By: Chelsie Firestone – THE VILLAGE REPORTER
Students from the Montpelier Junior High Student Council were on hand at the Montpelier See and Do Club on Wednesday, December 11 to help with the preparing and giving out of Christmas meals to area residents that had signed up to receive a package. Those students were followed by MHS Student Council and National Honor Society Seniors who arrived on Thursday, December 12 to offer their time and assistance as well. While the students’ assistance might be seen as a service project, the students involved all came of their own free will to exercise the gift of giving over the Christmas season.
The See and Do Club, which is ran exclusively by volunteers, offers the meals to area residents in need as part of the organization’s ongoing food bank. Clients of the See and Do Club receive a food box from the club’s pantry every other month. Food items are received by the club through area donations as well as through an on-going relationship with a food bank in Toledo, where the See and Do Club can purchase many food items for only 19 cents per pound.
The See and Do Club greatly appreciates the support of the community as they reach out to help those in need and welcomes any and all donations. Food donations are always accepted and the club is especially in need of peanut butter, fruit juice, cereal, and toilet paper, all of which cannot be bought at the Toledo food bank due to expense. Monetary donations are also greatly appreciated as the club can often do more at the Toledo food bank with monetary donations than a private citizen can at a local grocery store. People wishing to volunteer their time are also greatly appreciated.
Anyone in need can contact the See and Do Club to fill out a form to see if he or she meets the federal guidelines to receive assistance. These guidelines are the same as the guidelines for receiving free or reduced lunches at area schools. Anyone living outside of the 43506 zip code, which offers several food banks of its own, and who meets these guidelines is eligible to receive the assistance of the See and Do Club’s food pantry. There are no requirements, however, to browse the See and Do Club’s shop, where a variety of clothing and household items can be found at no cost.
Normal operating hours of the See and Do Club are Wednesdays and Fridays from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm and the third Monday of every month from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Anyone with questions about qualifying for assistance or who would like to help can visit the See and Do Club, located on Depot Street in Montpelier, or call 419-485-3777.
Chelsie Firestone can be reached at chelsie@thevillagereporter.com