Group Helps Open Door Food Pantry Feed Hungry

CANTON, MI – A “pass the purse” event at a Giving Hope, Women’s Giving Circle’s winter social at the Dixboro General Store raised $500, which was donated to the Open Door Food Pantry in Canton to purchase hams that were distributed to 510 family members for the holiday season.

Open Door’s director, Steve Parr, said that more than 1.1 million pounds of food had been given to to an average of 444 families each week by mid-December.

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“Of course that is made possible through wonderful people like you pitching in to help in so many different ways,” Parr told members of the Giving Hope group. “We thank you so much for your donation.”

According to recently released U.S. Census figures, household income in the Plymouth-Canton communities have decreased in the past five years (2009-2014). In the Plymouth community, household income dropped about 18.1 percent while Canton Township household income dropped 10.1 percent.

Giving Hope, Women’s Giving Circle is composed of women from the local community who care about the welfare of the people in the Canton and Plymouth communities.

For example, Kathy Lake, a current member of the Advisory Board, is a devoted and compassionate volunteer who has served the Open Door Food Bank and First Step.

Former Advisory Board member Debbie Cortellini is also deeply involved in the community with the Literacy group.

“These wonderful women are but two examples of the compassionate and caring spirit that makes up Giving Hope,” Vercruysse said. “The depth of knowledge our Advisory Board members and members at large have about the needs in the community is a significant asset to our work.”

Giving Hope, Women’s Giving Circle is a fund of the Canton Community Foundation that provides grants to address the needs of women and children in the greater Canton/Plymouth area. Approximately 75 women comprise the Giving Circle, which aspires to make a positive community impact through philanthropy. For more information, click here.