WHITEHOUSE, Ohio — Generosity was in great supply this year, all around our communities.
The Anthony Wayne Food Pantry in Whitehouse received bags and bags of food and supplies this past week leading up to the holiday.
The pantry, which has been around since 1995, is run by Zion United Methodist Church.
Pastor Carol Williams-Young says Whitehouse is a fairly affluent community, but even it has seen an increased need because of the pandemic.
"There are probably people out there that could use our services but don't know we're available," said Pastor Williams-Young, "and we've been trying hard to make that known."
She believes many of these people have never been to a food pantry or had the need to.
"People who did suffer from the pandemic from losses of jobs, income and so on," said Williams-Young, "they're not familiar where you look for help. That's not a part of their landscape."
Pantry workers like Ron and Linda Myers say they are helping around 30 households right now, up 30% this year from last year. Ron Myers says it's heartwarming to see the response from the community.
"You know every person, each donating a few grocery bags, it adds up to a lot of people," said Myers.
The pantry is open the first and third Tuesday of every month from 4 - 6 p.m.
The community stepped up in a large way with food donations but Pastor Williams-Young says that also included a Christmas assistance program with Anthony Wayne schools.
"We assisted at least 34 families, representing 88 children, which was much higher than previous years," she said, "and the gifts that were provided for those families were just like over the top."
And in a year that's included staying at home and avoiding others, there's been a renewed sense of generosity.
"Where the generous impulse may have been there in the past," she added, "this year there's just much more of a need to connect through generosity."
Pastor Williams-Young encourages everyone to continue giving because the need in the community is still there even after the holidays.
If you are in a food emergency or would like to help volunteer at the pantry, you can reach out to their Facebook page or call 419-877-5820.
If you need help or would like to donate, there are food banks all across our viewing area.
LUCAS COUNTY
Toledo Northwestern Ohio Food Bank
Toledo Seagate Food Bank
Food for Thought (Toledo)
Equality Toledo
Lutheran Social Services of Northwestern Ohio (Toledo)
Helping Hands of St. Louis (Toledo)
St. Joan of Arc - St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry (Toledo)
Greater Grace Christian Church (Toledo)
Emmanuel Baptist Church (Toledo)
New Heights Food Pantry (east Toledo)
Life Station Food Pantry (south Toledo)
Under One Roof (Maumee)
Anthony Wayne Food Pantry (Whitehouse)
Jerusalem Township Food Pantry (Curtice)
WOOD COUNTY
Moms Mobile Mission (Perrysburg)
Grace United Methodist Church (Perrysburg)
Kitchen of Hope - Zoar Lutheran Church (Perrysburg)
Islamic Center of Greater Toledo (Perrysburg)
Bowling Green Christian Food Pantry
First United Methodist Church Food Pantry (Bowling Green)
St. Aloysius Church Food Pantry (Bowling Green)
St. Thomas More Food Pantry (Bowling Green)
God's Storehouse - Scott Trinity UMC (Bradner)
Pantry Plus (Fostoria)
Sharing Kitchen (Fostoria)
Otsego Food Pantry (Grand Rapids)
New Life Community Wesleyan Church (Grand Rapids)
Community Food Pantry – Bethlehem Lutheran Church (Pemberville)
Foundation Stone Church (Northwood)
Bridge Fellowship Church (North Baltimore)
Christ United Methodist Church (Portage)
All Saints Catholic Church (Rossford)
St. John’s Lutheran Church (Stoney Ridge)
God's Storehouse (Wayne)
FULTON COUNTY
FISH Archbold
Templo Cristiano Asambleas de Dios (Archbold)
FISH Wauseon/First Christian Church
Oasis Christian Fellowship (Wauseon)
True North Church (Wauseon)
St. Vincent DePaul - Wauseon, Pettisville, Tedrow
Helping Hands Food Pantry (Fayette)
United Methodist Church of Fayette
Delta Community Outreach
Shiloh Christian Union Church (Delta)
St. Vincent DePaul - Swanton, Delta
St. Vincent DePaul - Lyons, Metamora
HENRY COUNTY
St. John's United Church of Christ (Holgate)
St Peter's Lutheran Church (Holgate)
Holgate United Methodist (Holgate)
True Believers Fellowship (Holgate)
Liberty Chapel UMC (Liberty Center)
Caring Cupboard (Liberty Center)
Trinity Lutheran Church (Malinta)
Deshler/Hamler Area Food Pantry (Deshler)
Parkside Christian Fellowship (Deshler)
Zion Lutheran Church (Ridgeville Corners)
Apostolic Christian Center (Napoleon)
St Vincent De Paul (Napoleon)
St John Episcopal Church (Napoleon)
Christ United Methodist Church (Napoleon)
St Paul Lutheran Church (Napoleon)
Bread From Heaven-St Johns (Napoleon)
DEFIANCE COUNTY
St. Mary’s Catholic Church (Defiance)
Hebron Ministries (Defiance)
New Jerusalem Church (Defiance)
Restoration Church (Defiance)
St. John Lutheran Church (Defiance)
St. Paul United Methodist Church (Defiance)
Temple of Praise (Defiance)
Sherwood United Methodist Church
Christ’s Cupboard Ministries (Hicksville)
WILLIAMS COUNTY
Merging Streams Food Pantry (Stryker)
Open Hands Caring Hearts (Bryan)
Helping Hands Food Pantry (Montpelier)
Butler United Methodist Church (Butler)
SENECA COUNTY
Christ Church at Tiffin Food Pantry
Fish of Tiffin Food Pantry
Salvation Army Tiffin Food Pantry & Meal Site
Harmony UMC Food Pantry (Tiffin)
Pantry Plus (Fostoria)
Sharing Kitchen (Fostoria)
Attica Food Pantry (Attica)
Bloomville UMC Food Pantry (Bloomville)
Republic Food Pantry (Republic)
HANCOCK COUNTY
Chopin Hall (Findlay)
Lutheran Social Services of N.W. Ohio (Findlay)
Salvation Army Feeding Soup Kitchen (Findlay)
Maranatha Bible Church (Van Buren)
Pantry Plus (Fostoria)
SANDUSKY COUNTY
The Family Worship Center (Fremont)
The Lords Storehouse Compassion Ministries (Fremont)
Sandusky County Food Pantry (Fremont)
Hayes Memorial United Methodist Church (Fremont)
Pontifex (Fremont)
Clyde Back Door Food Pantry
Oak Harbor Alliance Chapel
Woodville Good Samaritan
Bellevue Fish and Loaves
Grace Lutheran Church (Elmore)
OTTAWA COUNTY
United Way in Ottawa County (Port Clinton)
Oak House (Port Clinton)
Seed Faith Missions and Food Pantry (Gypsum)
Church of Truth Ministries (Gypsum)
Christ Community Church (Genoa)
Grace Lutheran Church (Elmore)
Food for Thought Toledo as well as Oak Harbor Alliance Chapel (Oak Harbor)
MICHIGAN
LENAWEE COUNTY
Damascus Road Ministries (Adrian)
Daily Bread of Lenawee (Adrian)
St. Vincent de Paul (Adrian)