On Saturday, November 22, thirty Zoo employees with their families joined another twenty volunteers from our Avondale neighborhood to pack up 225 boxes filled with all the ingredients to create a fresh, full, Thanksgiving meal. The boxes were passed out to children and their families from Rockdale Academy, South Avondale Elementary, and the SO-ACT Senior Citizen Group, giving them a hand up to kick off this holiday season and us the opportunity to show our support for our community.
This 4th Annual Thanksgiving Food Drive was organized by Avondale’s Avenue District Block Club, of which the Zoo is a member. Almost every department in the Zoo, along with some of our great partners such as HGC Construction and Keep Cincinnati Beautiful, donated enough funds to support the cost of 150 meals. An overwhelming response from other local institutions and individuals helped us reach the final count of 225 meals. Those donors include:
- Habitat for Humanity of Greater Cincinnati
- The Community Builders
- Ronald McDonald House Charities
- Avondale Community Council (ACC)
- Avondale Comprehensive Development Corporation
- The Community Builders (TCB), LISC (Local Initiates Support Corporation)
- Uptown Consortium
- Lincoln Ware Walking Club
- Avondale Running Club
- PES Marketing
Boxes donated by Two Men and a Truck and RR Donnelly West Chester were stuffed with a 15lb turkey and all the fixings for a hearty Thanksgiving feast. Many thanks to the Avondale Youth Council for doing all of the shopping for us, as well as putting together all 225 boxes.
Sheila Holmes Howard, President and Secretary of AADBC shares, “I am so thankful for the generous outpouring of support from folks who truly care and who continually give back to our community. This is HUGE! It is totally awesome! AADBC and ACC thank everyone who unselfishly gives their time, talents and money”.
The Cincinnati Zoo is committed not only to the conservation of wildlife, but to serving our community as a part of our mission. By providing our community with the resources and tools they need to live a healthy and sustainable life, we not only strengthen our relationship with them, but empower them to save money, save resources and instill pride within their homes and our neighborhoods. Our staff was thankful to be part of such a generous and meaningful event to kick off this holiday season.
