Holmes-Tuscarawas meat canning returns to Berlin

For many people, hunger is easy to overlook — something seen on the news or in distant places. But for families who live with food insecurity every day, it is a constant, painful reality.

Mennonite Central Committee works to help address that need, and for decades it has done so through its annual meat canning ministry. This year’s Holmes-Tuscarawas County MCC Meat Canning Days will take place in Berlin Jan. 27-30, bringing volunteers together to prepare canned meat that will be shipped to individuals and communities facing hardship around the world.

Before a single can is filled, however, the effort depends on something just as vital as the food itself: people willing to give their time.

Organized by Mennonite Central Committee, the meat canning program draws volunteers from Mennonite, Amish and other Anabaptist communities, as well as anyone who wants to help. Volunteers work together in a steady rhythm — trimming and preparing meat, operating equipment, labeling cans and packing cases for shipment.

Though the process may appear straightforward, the overall mission is anything but simple. MCC’s traveling canning crews move from state to state, completing large-scale canning events that require long hours and significant coordination.

Last year, MCC shipped 611,520 cans of meat worldwide, with nearly half distributed to families in Ethiopia. Additional shipments supported communities in Cuba, Malawi, Ukraine, Zambia and other countries facing chronic hunger, displacement or crisis.

In Ukraine, canned meat is often delivered to food kitchens serving families uprooted by war. In Ethiopia, where malnutrition has affected families for generations, the meat provides critical protein. Wherever the food goes, MCC officials say the message is the same: people are not forgotten.

The Berlin canning facility has served as a stop for this ministry since before 1970, when the building was constructed. During the local canning days, the facility will operate from 6 a.m. to about 10 p.m. each day, except Friday, when the schedule typically ends earlier.

According to organizer David Lee Kauffman, volunteers are still needed to fill several shifts. Shifts run 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 about 9 p.m., preparing the facility for the next day’s work.

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

The Holmes-Tuscarawas canning days have focused on chicken in recent years, following many years of canning beef and turkey.

Inside the cannery, the work is demanding, but the spirit is uplifting. Volunteers labor side by side, building friendships and sharing conversation while knowing their efforts will soon become meals for people who may otherwise go without.

For many, the experience becomes as meaningful as the outcome. The program offers a hands-on way to put faith into action and to serve neighbors — both near and far — through practical compassion.

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

Individuals or groups interested in volunteering may call or text Kauffman at 330-231-5661. Food will be provided for volunteers, including hot ham and cheese sandwiches, cookies, water and coffee.

Those unable to volunteer but wishing to contribute financially may send donations to Holmes-Tuscarawas Relief, P.O. Box 66, Berlin, OH 44610.