The holidays are a time for giving, and one local bakery is taking that to heart this Christmas by giving away meals to the homeless on Christmas Eve. Brian Foley of Brian’s Artisan Bakery in Galion will be setting up shop at Harmony House in Mansfield this Wednesday to provide food and small gifts to those in need.
This is the fourth Christmas Foley and his small staff have done something charitable for the holidays, but the first time they have partnered with Harmony House to feed the homeless in downtown Mansfield.
“The last few years we have helped two local families through the holidays; in the past we’ve done dinner, Christmas gifts and a tree, and try to catch them up on either their mortgage or utility payments,” said Foley. “The last three years has been extremely successful, the bakery donates most of it but we put a notice asking for some help from the community as well.”
This year, Foley set out to help two more families for the holidays with a $2,400 fundraising goal, but as of Dec. 21 only $50 of that goal has been raised. So instead, Foley decided to turn his attention to the homeless people of Mansfield.
“We’re going to get a bunch of food together…then head to Harmony House and provide as many homeless people as we can not only with food and a warm meal but a small gift as well,” said Foley.
Starting at around 5 p.m. on Christmas Eve, Foley estimated that about 20 to 25 pounds of pasta, one or two pans of salad and tons of fresh bread from Brian’s Artisan Bakery would be provided, as well as a gift of hats, scarves and gloves to those who need them. Foley himself will be at Harmony House serving the meals, as well as Miss North Central Most Outstanding Teen 2014 Sydney Shasky. Any leftovers from the dinner will then be taken to Mansfield’s domestic violence shelter.
“If we have leftovers at the very end of the day we’ll put a little food in Styrofoam containers, and Sydney said we will drive the streets of downtown Mansfield and bring those people what we have left,” said Folely. “She really wants to help as well, so I’m happy she’s going to be part of it.”
In the four years since opening Brian’s Artisan Bakery, Foley has always given back to his community – especially during the holidays.
“It’s not necessarily a huge amount it’s just what we can do,” he said. “We try to do at least one charity a year and then something good for the holidays.”
While Foley said the bakery would cover 95 percent of the costs for the Christmas Eve giveaways, he could always use a little help. Those wishing to help can donate non-perishable food items to serve, or gifts to hand out to those in need. He noted he has already received a large donation of winter clothes from, Josephine Kirby Thompson, a stranger who had heard about his cause. All donations must be received in time for Christmas Eve.
Coming from a large Italian family where family has always been first priority, Foley said giving his time for those in need on Christmas is a no-brainer.
“Everybody deserves a warm meal – I don’t care what kind of person you are, if you are in need you deserve a warm meal, a handshake and a hug to make you feel good even if just for five minutes,” said Foley. “It’s a nice way to let people know there are a few of us out there that still care about them.”
For details on how to help Foley’s Christmas cause, please call Brian’s Artisan Bakery at 419-777-7002.
