TOLEDO, Ohio — Cherry Street Mission Ministries serves 300 people every single day making sure they have food for each meal. During the holidays, they anticipate up to 500.
But staff say they can't do that unless they have volunteers and food on the shelves, or in this case - in the freezer.
Cherry Street Mission CEO and president, Ann Ebbert, said there's been a 76% increase in need this year compared to this time last year. Thanksgiving is one of the busiest days to give out meals for Cherry Street Mission Ministries.
She says something most people don't realize is the charity provides different meal options to those in need. Staff say doing that treats them with dignity and respect.
Of course, turkey is always a staple on Thanksgiving. Normally, Cherry Street would have the freezer almost stocked by now with frozen turkeys. This year, the situation is different. They only have about a dozen. To put things into perspective, they usually go through a thousand during the holiday season.
Ebbert explained with the cost of food going up, the inflation and people still trying to adjust to post-pandemic living, more of the population needs help.
"[There is] an extremely high level of need," she said. "Both in people who are experiencing homelessness, but also in people who come just for a meal to our café and need to supplement their own food budget."
This also includes some of the volunteer help the mission receives every year. To feed the 500 people they're expecting in just two weeks, staff with the mission is asking for extra helping hands.
Ebbert said everyone deserves a warm meal each day. She feels those they serve should not be shamed and instead, they need to be given hope.
"Being aware and being merciful and gracious," Ebbert explained. "To give people a hand up and give them opportunities because the individuals who are experiencing poverty, are tremendously gifted and wonderful people."
WTOL 11 asked her if she was worried about getting enough turkeys or helping hands during the holiday season, but she said no. Ebbert thanked Toledoans for always showing up to help those in need.
More information on how to sign up to help on Thanksgiving Day can be found here.