Calling Around Bradford: Pumpkins and flu shots and Manna, oh my!

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BRADFORD — Like a magical whirlwind, Pumpkin Show breezed into town and exited the same way. What a perfect week of Pumpkin Show! The weather was absolutely perfect. It has been a long time since I can remember such amazing weather for the entire week. All of the volunteers that worked so hard to make this event a success did an amazing job. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

I know for this family, many memories were made. It was also neat to see how many vendors took part in the Craft tents this year. And the parades! The parades were awesome and it was so neat to see all of the hard work put into the family floats! I could go on and on. The best part is, everyone in the community is invited to take part.

Ideas and new faces are always encouraged to join in to offer ideas and to keep the pumpkin fun and confetti alive. If you have any ideas you would like to share, you can contact President Jim Wysong at 937-448-6671.

Bradford Public Library

Flu shots will be given at Bradford Public Library on Thursday, Oct. 22, from 4 -6:30 p.m. The cost is $30 per immunization, but Darke County Health Department personnel will file your insurance papers for you that evening. They will also accept cash or check. The “flu vaccine” is for ALL ages — six months through adults. The flu immunizations will come in two types: the normal flu shot and the nasal mist, as long as it is available. The Darke County Health Department is providing the flu shot vaccine as a service to our community! You will sign in when you arrive and the shots are first come, first served. For any additional questions, contact the library at 937-448-2612.

MANNA Meal Ministries

Did you know that Manna Meal Ministries has been delivering meals to locals in need for more than eight years? The ministry is a program brought together by the Bradford Area Association of Churches. It is a sharing a serving ministry of daily meals to those that need assistance due to illness, dietary needs, financial burdens or the incapability to fix a meal. At the height of the season, nearly 40 meals are distributed five days a week. On Friday, recipients receive three meals to carry them through the weekend.

Over these past years, the food has been donated by the Brethren Retirement Home in Greenville. Five days a week, a volunteer picks up their leftover meals and drives them to Bradford. From there volunteers decide on what kind of meals can be made and dished the into containers that are then sealed and delivered five days a week. Up until now, all this has taken place in the Church of the Brethren basement and the program and recipients have been very thankful for the use of their basement. The ministry has now moved to the basement of The Depot on Main Street. In order for the ministry to do this, they had to put in a wheelchair ramp at the side of the building. All this was done by mostly by donations. Monetary donations and donations of time and hard work. What a wonderful accomplishment!

Bradford area residents are welcome to partake of the free Manna food available on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:45-9:30 a.m. After the daily meals are made on these days, residents are invited to bring in their own empty containers to be filled with leftover foods. You are to use the west side door of the Depot building and take the ramp down to the basement kitchen on 203 E. Main St.

On Fridays, the ministry hosts Shared Harvest, a giving and sharing ministry of free food from local Walmarts and other facilities to Bradford. Food items very from produce to baked goods. The doors open at 9:45 a.m. and you will be given a number. Food pick up will start at 10 a.m.

Volunteers are always needed. If you are interested in donating a couple hours of your mornings, please call Athena at 937-621-4995. This is a pretty amazing program and it purely runs on volunteers and monetary donations. Monetary donations go towards any items that the ministry needs to keep it running, such as electricity and containers that are used for meals. They are also looking for a refrigerator at this time. If you or someone you know can benefit from this program please do so!

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Heather Canan

Contributing Columnist

Heather Canan is a freelance writer who lives in Bradford with her husband and twin daughters. Reach her at [email protected] or 937-417-4317. Viewpoints expressed in the article are the work of the author. The Daily Advocate does not endorse these viewpoints or the independent activities of the author.

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