Volunteers power MCC Meat Canning Days in Holmes, Tuscarawas counties

Until someone faces hunger on a monumental level, not having food on your plate every day is out of sight, out of mind.

However, when daily hunger is a part of life, it's all too real.

Mennonite Central Committee’s goal is to help alleviate hunger, and for many years it has done so through its annual meat canning effort.

This year’s Holmes-Tuscarawas County MCC Meat Canning Days will take place in the Berlin facility Jan. 27-30, but before one silver can is cleaned, one MCC label is placed or one single piece of chicken is canned, it takes great effort to assemble a group of volunteers willing to invest their time in helping others thrive and survive.

MCC’s meat canning process is a quiet but powerful ministry, rooted in faith and service, and it reaches far beyond the walls of its canneries throughout parts of Canada and the United States.

Organized by Mennonite Central Committee, the program brings together volunteers from Mennonite, Amish and other Anabaptist communities who volunteer their time and skills to preserve meat for people in need.

While it may seem like a simple process, there isn’t anything simple about the time-consuming journey the canning crew takes as it tours many states canning mainly turkey, along with some other meats.

Last year saw MCC ship 611,520 cans of meat worldwide, with nearly half of that distributed to needy families in Ethiopia. Other nations of focus included Cuba, Malawi, Ukraine, Zambia and many other nations.

In Ukraine the canned meat is sent to food kitchens for displaced and struggling families due to the ongoing war with Russia. For decades families and communities in Ethiopia have suffered from malnutrition.

As has been the case since prior to 1970, when the meat canning building was built in Berlin, MCC will make its annual stop for the Holmes-Tuscarawas Meat Canning Days and will operate each day from 6 a.m. to around 10 p.m., except for Friday, which David Lee Kauffman said usually ends earlier because of the hard-working volunteers who help wrap up the process in fine fashion.

According to Kauffman, they are still seeking volunteers to fill several of the shifts. Shifts operate from 6-10 a.m., 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., 2-6 p.m. and a cleanup crew from 6 p.m. to around 9 p.m., preparing the facility for the following day’s activity.

“We’ll find a place for anyone who wants to volunteer, and there are a lot of ways to help,” Kauffman said. “But we are still seeking volunteers for all shifts, so we welcome anyone who wants to make a difference and serve others.”

The Holmes-Tuscarawas County Meat Canning Days had chicken the past several years after canning beef and then turkey for many years.

What may look like a simple assembly line of cleaning, carving, cooking and canning turkey is actually an expression of compassion, each can filled with care, prayer and a commitment to serve neighbors near and far.

Inside the canneries, volunteers work side by side in a spirit of cooperation. Some trim and prepare the meat, others operate the canning equipment, and others label and pack cases for shipment.

The work is steady and often tiring, but it is shared gladly because of the volunteers’ desire to serve others in the name of Christ.

Even as volunteers work, conversations flow easily, friendships are formed and enhanced, and there is a sense of purpose that fills the canning facility because everyone understands their efforts will soon become meals for families who might otherwise go hungry.

Once sealed, the cans begin a journey that can span continents or may even remain right here in Holmes County.

MCC Meat Canning supplies food to disaster zones, refugee camps and impoverished communities around the world. Whether responding to hurricanes, earthquakes, conflict or chronic hunger, the canned meat provides a reliable source of protein where fresh food is scarce. In places where uncertainty is common, these shipments bring both nourishment and a reminder that people elsewhere care deeply about their well-being.

The impact of MCC Meat Canning is felt not only by those who receive the food, but also by those who give their time to make it possible.

“It is always a true blessing to serve others, and this is something special we can all do to help,” Kauffman said.

Volunteers often leave the cannery changed, having experienced the joy that comes from meaningful service. The act of working with one’s hands for the sake of others reinforces values of humility, generosity and global responsibility. It becomes a living lesson in putting faith into action.

Through MCC Meat Canning, a simple can of meat becomes a symbol of hope. It represents communities united across cultures and borders, responding to suffering with practical love. Year after year this ministry continues to serve the world, quietly, faithfully, and effectively proving small, steady acts of service can make a profound difference in the lives of many.

Anyone wishing to volunteer, whether an individual or group, may call or text Kauffman at 330-231-5661. Kauffman said food will be provided for volunteers in the way of hot ham and cheese sandwiches, cookies, water and coffee.

Those who can’t make it to the meat canning effort but wish to make a monetary donation may send a check to Holmes-Tuscarawas Relief, P.O. Box 66, Berlin, OH 44610.