In an effort to spread the message about hunger in this nation of plenty, the League of Women Voters and the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank are partnering to present a screening of the documentary A Place at the Table at 6 p.m. Sept. 26 at Tallmadge High School auditorium, 104 N. Munroe Road, Tallmadge.
The event is free, but those attending are urged to bring a nonperishable food item. “The Super Six most-needed items are cereal, peanut butter, canned tuna, vegetables, beef stew and soup,” wrote League of Women Voters of Tallmadge spokeswoman Carmen Thompson.
“Following the screening, a panel discussion about making healthy food available and affordable for all will take place. The panelists will be Dan Flowers, president/CEO of the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank; Paula Prentice, vice president of Summit County Council and health and human services chair; and Mary Helms, coordinator of Fish and Loaves Food Pantry.
“League of Women Voters groups partnering with the Foodbank to present the screening are from Akron, Hudson, Tallmadge, Kent and Northern Portage County.”
Prior to the screening, Prentice will accept the food bank’s SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) Challenge, pledging to live on a $4.50 per person per day budget and discuss her experience.
Fresh produce
“Green for Pink” is a grand grass-roots effort started by Tara Reynolds as a way “to promote nutritional support and provide locally sourced, plant-based foods to breast cancer patients and their families in Medina and Summit counties.”
Tara, a cancer survivor, explained the genesis:
“I attended support meetings regularly. At one of these meetings I met a two-time survivor who said, ‘I had a freezer full of chicken soup and all I wanted was some good, fresh food.’
“Days after hearing those words, my friend Melissa Purdy, who runs Green P Farm, called and offered to bring a basket of organic produce from her garden. Together, these two things became Green for Pink …
“Green for Pink provides fresh produce to women nearing the end of their cancer treatment. Deliveries are made weekly for three to six weeks and include food from backyard gardens, farms, farmers markets and local grocery chains. Food is either washed and ready to use or fresh-picked, depending on the patient’s level of strength … Our season runs July 1 to Oct. 15, to capture the best fresh food Ohio has to offer.”
The current crop of patients being referred to the program come from Summa Parkview Oncology Center in Barberton, through nurse navigator Kari Kovach.
A Harvest Hafla event is in the works to help fund and expand the program, to build a lending library of vegetarian cookbooks and to provide volunteer training.
The Harvest Hafla — sponsored by Creative Motion’s belly dance company, Veritas — is set for 7 to 10 p.m. Oct. 12 at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Akron, 3300 Morewood Road (near Summit Mall).
There will be dancers from all over Northeast Ohio, lots of good food, raffle baskets including one filled with local goods, and a beginner belly dance basket that includes classes. Cost is $5. For a reservation or to learn more please visit Facebook (green4pink) or call 330-715-0593.
100th birthday
Mary Szittai of Norton celebrated her 100th birthday early and royally when the Grace Widow Ladies, of which she is a member, surprised her at the monthly meeting Sept. 7 at a picnic at Canal Fulton. Her actual birthday is today.
Jeannie Neely, president of the group from Grace Brethren Church in Norton, presented the honoree — whom members dressed in an ornate crown and white robe — with a basket of 138 birthday cards.
The former Mary Soltez, born in Passaic, N.J., was lauded for being a hard worker inside and outside of the home. She worked at Pflueger’s, Belgrade Gardens and Sun Rubber.
Her daughter-in-law, Ann Szittai of Akron, also a widow, attends the club with her mother-in-law who was widowed after 56 years of marriage to her beloved Joseph in 1986.
“You don’t have to be a member of Grace Brethren to join the Grace Widow Ladies Club,” Neely wanted me to know, explaining that Mrs. Szittai is a member of Prince of Peace Catholic Church in Barberton.
Mrs. Szittai is the mother of Mary Ann Engy of Barberton; son Joseph is deceased. She’s the grandmother of nine (two of whom are deceased), great-grandmother of 16, and great-great-grandmother of seven.
Ann Szittai said her mother-in-law, despite a few heath scares, still enjoys a full active life.
Farewell
A sweet, sweet goodbye to Mary (Love Miller) Griffin of Green, whom I met in 2008 when she shared a room with her best friend of more than 60 years, Mae Agnes (Robinson Coleman) Wormald, at Pebble Creek Nursing Home.
Dear Mrs. Wormald died in February 2011 at the age of 104. Mrs. Griffin died Sunday, also at the age of 104.
Both twice-widowed friends were members of Springfield Baptist (formerly Thomastown Baptist) Church.
Fancy footrace
Kick Up Your Heels — End Childhood Hunger is a fun time with a serious purpose.
The event is sponsored by Feeding Medina County and Hawkins Fresh Foods, and planned for Oct. 12. It will feature outrageously dressed men, women and children in all manner of festive costumes, including high heels, boas, tube socks and the like, in a footrace on the historic Medina Square. Proceeds go to the Weekenders for Children program.
Register and pick up race-day bags at a pre-event 6:30 p.m. Oct. 11 at the Medina Community Theater following a kick-off reception. The reception will feature heavy hors d’oeuvres prepared by Williams at the Lake, beverages, entertainment and a drawing for orange suede stilettos autographed by Elisabeth Hasselbeck.
Tickets for Friday’s event are $30 at www.feedingmedinacounty.eventbrite.com.
Saturday morning’s big event opens with an 8 a.m. registration ($20) followed by a warm-up with Hutch Sports. Heats include Big Heels Keep On Rollin’ and The Wild Thing (for the crazily dressed). Prizes go to the most outrageous racer or team. Registration available at www.feedingmedinacounty.eventbrite.com or call 330-421-4816. Or email sandisammon@feedingmedinacounty.org.
Benefit concert
Rahab Ministries — a Christian ministry whose mission is rescuing and restoring women who are trafficked into prostitution in Northeast Ohio — is hosting its fifth annual Scarlet Cord benefit concert Nov. 8 at Christ Community Chapel, 750 W. Streetsboro St., Hudson.
Musical headliner will be Jim Bossler. Appetizers, desserts and a live and silent auction also are included in the $50 ticket price.
“Each dollar raised will help Rahab reach its goal of securing a safe house, a residential home where women can heal,” said Rahab Executive Director Rebecca Moreland. “The scarlet cord of hope that Rahab Ministries extends is the safe haven of Jesus, along with transitional assistance and support, while breaking the chains of sexual slavery.”
Doors open at 5:30 p.m. The concert begins at 7 p.m.
Sponsor opportunities are available. For more information please visit www.Rahab-Ministries.org or call 330-819-3326. Deadline is Nov. 5.
Jewell Cardwell can be reached at 330-996-3567 or jcardwell@thebeaconjournal.com.