ACH Volunteers sponsor “Have a Heart” food dive

As Valentine’s Day approaches, many will search for ways to show loved ones they are cared about. This year, the Alliance Community Hospital (ACH) volunteers are asking for your help to shower the community with love.

In recognition of Heart Month, the ACH volunteers will be sponsoring the “Have a Heart” food drive to benefit the Alliance Community Pantry, which assists in helping meet the needs of those struggling in our community.

“Our volunteers, who range in age from 16 to 93, open their hearts to help those in our community who are in need through a variety of activities throughout the year,” said Michele Quinn, Coordinator of Volunteer Services. “Helping others isn’t just part of what these wonderful individuals do on a daily basis, it’s part of who they are.”

While many donations are made to the pantry during the holiday season, those donations have already been used. Community donations are important throughout the year as they provide a variety of items that are typically not available to the individuals who benefit from the services of the pantry.

In 2013, 2,624 local families visited the Alliance Community Pantry a total of 18,154 times – an increase of 4% since 2012.  Of those families, 9,005 individuals benefited from the food they received. Last year the pantry gave away 931,000 pounds of food – an increase of 37% since 2012.

The “Have a Heart” food drive will take place from February 1^st – February 15^th. Community members wishing to donate are being asked to place donations of nonperishable foods and paper products in the box inside the hospital café. Please call the Volunteer Department at 330-596-7821 or 330-596-7822 for more information.

“Where there is a need, our volunteers are there, ready to help anyway they can,” said Quinn.

For more information about Alliance Community Hospital please go to www.achosp.org or visit the hospital’s Facebook page.

(Left to right): ACH volunteers Barb Morgan and Eleanor Carver, along with Michele Quinn, Coordinator of Volunteer Services and Wendy Tabellion hold some of the food donations that have been collected thus far.