In Sylvania, Ohio, Lourdes University hosts a unique casserole-making marathon every year before Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Beginning at 3 p.m. on Friday, students, alumni, and staff gather in the kitchen to prepare meals for those in need. It’s all part of their initiative called “Fill the Freezer,” which has been going strong for ten years.
Participants work in two-hour shifts through the night, aiming to make 180 casseroles by the end of the event on Saturday afternoon. Sister Barb Vano, the vice president for mission and ministry at the university, notes the interesting energy levels throughout the night. Smaller groups during late hours work swiftly, while the kitchen becomes busier as the deadline approaches.
Why 180 casseroles? This effort supports the Toledo Labre Project, named after the patron saint of homeless individuals. Each week, members of Lourdes University prepare sandwiches and meals for their local community. Vano emphasizes that food serves as a bridge to foster connections. “Food is really a vehicle to a relationship,” she explains.
This casserole marathon is an amplified version of their regular meetings. Once completed, the meals will stock the freezers at Lourdes and will provide sustenance for months. Each casserole is made to be frozen and baked later.
Community involvement is crucial for many participants. Britt Seese, a retention and testing specialist at Lourdes, shares, “I think it’s really cool giving back and putting my values into action.”
Such outreach programs highlight the growing trend of community involvement across the nation. According to a recent survey, about 70% of Americans believe in the importance of volunteering and giving back. These efforts not only feed hungry mouths but also build stronger community ties.
For more about the Toledo Labre Project, you can visit their official page here.
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