Main Street Delaware teams up with Lutheran Social Services for November First Friday

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For the first time, Lutheran Social Services is sponsoring a First Friday in downtown Delaware, and November’s event is appropriately food-themed.

“We’re going to bring our big truck and have a ‘stuff-the-truck challenge,’ asking people to bring non-perishable food to help out Delaware County people who might not be able to have a great Thanksgiving meal without our help,” said Pamela Georgiana, director of engagement for LSS.

Last August, LSS opened a food pantry at 73 London Road.

“We’ve been operating food pantries in central Ohio since the 1920s, and we decided there was a need for Delaware County — 13 percent of the population are at risk of hunger every day,” Georgiana said. Ohio is also said to be the sixth worst state in the nation for food insecurity.

A little over a year later, the LSS Delaware County Food Pantry has assisted 2,200 families in the area.

“We’re happy to be in Delaware, and the community has really embraced our presence,” Georgiana said. “They made us feel very welcome.”

The LSS Delaware County food pantry is open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays; and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. It is closed Sundays and Mondays. For more information, visit lssfoodpantries.org or call 740-362-5652.

“Lutheran Social Services were kind enough to sponsor this month’s event, and they came up with a bunch of fresh new ideas,” said Frances Jo Hamilton, executive director of Main Street Delaware, the nonprofit organization which puts on the monthly First Fridays. “They’ve been great partners.”

Along with the LSS food truck being downtown, there will be a self-guided progressive “Recipe Tour.” The tour starts with receiving the cover for a recipe booklet at Main Street’s office, 20 E. Winter St. From there, participants will pick up 16 pages of favorite holiday recipes from different downtown merchants. Georgiana said the booklet will be bound together at the LSS truck.

In addition, there will be a pumpkin hat-making station for children, and a photo booth with a fall backdrop in the Strand Theatre where families can have their photos taken. There will also be a gratitude wall where people can write what they’re grateful for on Post-It notes.

“There should be plenty to do and lots of fun,” Hamilton said.

First Friday will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday in downtown Delaware. All events are free of charge. For more information on First Friday, visit www.mainstreetdelaware.com.

Lutheran Social Services is asking the public to fill this truck with non-perishable food items for First Friday.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2015/11/web1_truck.jpgLutheran Social Services is asking the public to fill this truck with non-perishable food items for First Friday. Courtesy photo | LSS

By Gary Budzak

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Gary Budzak may be reached at 740-413-0904 or on Twitter @GaryBudzak.

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