Harrison County groups offering food assistance, holiday aid for residents in need

Several organizations across Harrison County are stepping up this holiday season to help residents in need with food assistance and special programs.

Jewett Food Pantry

The Jewett Food Pantry serves residents of Jewett and the 43986 ZIP code. It is open every third Monday of the month at the Jewett Methodist Church, distributing food from 10 a.m. to noon and again from 6-7 p.m.

The pantry provides grocery gift cards each month to help residents purchase cold items and fresh produce, which cannot currently be stored due to limited refrigeration. Pantry media contact Jan Arbaugh said additional funds will be available this month and next to help families during the holiday season.

There are no income restrictions to receive assistance. “We do ask individuals to come and fill out an application with basic information,” Arbaugh said. “It does have income, but we don’t restrict it. If you feel that you need it, you’re more than welcome to come.”

Residents can support the pantry by donating nonperishable items at several Jewett locations, including BrightSide Tavern, the post office, the village office, Vallie Lanes, Unified Bank, and the Jewett Village Restaurant. Peanut butter and cereal are especially needed.

Monetary donations can be mailed to Arbaugh at 88900 Hauber Road, Jewett, OH 43986. Regular donations may be dropped off at collection boxes around town. To coordinate a donation time at the church, call Arbaugh at 740-946-1975.

“We’re so appreciative to anyone who is willing to share at this time,” Arbaugh said. “We want to help as much as we can with the situation at this time.”

A small, community-run food shelf is also available at the Veterans Park for residents in need.

Harrison County Senior Center

Seniors in Harrison County are encouraged to seek assistance through the Senior Center in Cadiz. Director Tammy Verhovec said the recent shutdown has had a noticeable impact on older residents. “It has affected the seniors greatly. More people are having to sign up for our program because of not receiving SNAP benefits,” she said.

The center administers the Commodity Supplemental Food Program, which provides qualifying seniors with a monthly box of food. To receive a commodity box, participants must be age 60 or older, live in Harrison County and meet income guidelines.

In addition to the regular program, the center is offering something new for Christmas this year—a special distribution of meat packages for seniors. “This is something new we are doing for Christmas this year,” Verhovec said.

Those wishing to help can donate food items directly to the Senior Center, where all donations will be distributed to local seniors in need.

The Harrison County Senior Center is located at 120 North Main Street in Cadiz and is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Residents seeking assistance can stop by, call 740-942-3238, or email hcsc@harco-seniorcenter.org.

Harrison County Veterans Services

The Harrison County Veterans Services office is offering all veterans and widows or widowers of veterans a $100 food voucher redeemable at Sander’s Market in Cadiz or Riesbeck’s in Scio.

Board President Ron Romshak said the program will run through Nov. 28 as a Thanksgiving helping hand for those in need.

“Just come up to the veterans office,” Romshak said. “It’ll be explained to them. They’ll give you two receipts. One receipt needs to come back to the office so we can keep track.”

Veterans must provide identification to verify their service. Widows and widowers should bring either a death or marriage certificate, or their spouse’s DD214 form.

“We budget for this every year,” Romshak said. “We started four or five years ago at $50 but we’ve increased it. Last year I think it was 140 vets we were able to help out.”

The Veterans Services office is located in the Harrison County Courthouse and is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.