Tis' the season for helping your neighbor
By Kelly Murad
STAFF WRITER
Local food bank receives anonymous donation
Of all the things to be thankful for this holiday season about 250 families will be especially grateful for Hospitality House and the generosity of one person.
Until recently, Hospitality House, a client-choice food pantry in Walled Lake, was preparing to tell hundreds of families they weren't going to receive turkeys for Thanksgiving.
Gleaner's Community Food Bank, where Hospitality House purchases food in bulk, reported they would be offering roster chickens instead of turkeys for the holiday season.
But one selfless individual came to the rescue.
"We had an anonymous donor take care of our turkeys this year," said Kristy Hutson, director of Hospitality House.
Along with the turkeys, Hospitality House will be providing the families with the traditional Thanksgiving meal "fixings" including stuffing, cranberry sauce, canned vegetables, dinner rolls, potatoes and something for dessert.
Even though Hospitality House is a food bank, they work in conjunction with local churches to offer individuals a place to go if they don't want to spend the holidays alone.
"It gives them a chance to get out and meet people in the community and not be alone," Hutson said.
Due to the economy, more families are experiencing financial burdens, then ever before.
"This year we're averaging about 380 households we're serving a month. Last year the average was 250," Hutson said. "That's a huge jump.
"The challenge this year is donations are down. We need volunteers. We need donations.
Hospitality House not only serves families in Walled Lake, but in surrounding areas such as Novi and Farmington Hills.
Although clients are required to fill out an application regarding income, breakdown of monthly expenses and how many people they are supporting, they will never be refused assistance.
"We don't ever turn anybody away," Hutson said. "If you're here and you tell us you need food that's good enough for us. We look at circumstance more than income.
"You have a lot of people that just come in when they need it. You don't find clients who are hoarding the food."
According to Hutson, all the donations come from local families, churches, businesses and schools.
"All of the Walled Lake Schools have at least one food drive a year for us," she said. "We also cooperate with Holy Family and St. James (in Novi). We get a lot of volunteers from Novi."
Hospitality House accepts both food and monetary donations.
"When folks donate money here, it goes so much further than just donating cans," Hutson said, explaining that with $1 she can purchase 10 portions of food through Gleaner's. "But we're always short on tuna, breakfast cereal and canned fruit."
Food distribution for Thanksgiving will begin Nov. 8.
Hospitality House is also accepting donations in preparation for The Holiday Shop Dec. 8.
The Shop will include brand new toys and some winter clothing for parents to choose and have wrapped for their children.
Novi News staff writer Kelly Murad can be reached at (248) 349-1700, ext 103 or kmurad@gannett.com.
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