Loveland, Ohio – Are you a local business, organization, church, or school that is looking for an opportunity to give back to the community? Well now is your chance as LIFE Food Pantry needs your help!
During this time of the year donations to food pantries tend to slow down while the need for donations either stays the same or increases. This issue is a constant battle every year. In order for LIFE Food Pantry to continue serving the 45140 zip code by providing food, financial assistance, and additional programs for those in need, they are asking for the community to rally around one another and host food drives!
Food Drives not only help stock LIFE Food Pantry’s shelves but also raise awareness in the community and encourage groups of people to come together for a great cause. Anyone can host a food drive and anyone can participate, you just have to be willing to organize it and make it happen! In the past businesses and organizations such as Loveland High School’s Tiger Inc, the Loveland Symmes Police Department, Loveland’s Kroger, Paxton’s Grill, the Loveland Athletic Boosters, and many more have hosted successful food drives. Doing good can be fun as you can be as creative as you want to be when organizing and hosting a food drive!
Ready for the challenge?! If you would like to host a food drive visit LIFE Food Pantry’s website, call the pantry at 513-583-8222, or shoot them an email. You can always stop by to discuss food drive possibilities as LIFE Food Pantry is located at 541 Loveland-Madeira Rd, Loveland Ohio 45140 and their hours are Tuesday 10 a.m.-12 p.m and 4-6:30 p.m, Wednesday 10 a.m.-12 p.m, Thursday 10 a.m.-12 p.m and 4-6:30 p.m, Friday 10 a.m.-12 p.m, and Saturday 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
For the latest local news and updates stay tuned to the Loveland Salad With ME, Cassie Mattia!
Loveland, Ohio – The Loveland community is all about giving back and that’s exactly what your local food pantry needs from you!
LIFE Food Pantry, located at 541 Loveland Madeira Rd in the Shoppers Haven Shopping Center, is eager to find more members of the community that would love to help those in need. LIFE thrives on bringing fellow neighbors together to volunteer for a great cause!
LIFE is currently looking for volunteers who can process incoming donations, sign in and shop with clients, and pick up donations from local stores. Volunteers do have the ability to make their own schedules.
If you would like to start your journey at LIFE Food Pantry as a volunteer please visit their website or you may call them at 513-583-8222.
Loveland, Ohio – “We are asking our local businesses to support the Valentine’s ‘Mask’erade Ball through sponsorships to cover the cost of the event,” LSFD (Loveland Symmes Fire Department) Chief Otto Huber said, “We want to send as many interested firefighters to medic school as possible. It will be a great time to take your sweetheart out for a romantic evening and support a great charity!”
When the LCFA (Loveland Symmes Community Firefighter’s Association) found out about Loveland planning its first Hearts Afire Weekend, they knew they wanted to be involved. So in true Loveland style, they decided to plan a heart-felt event where they could not only be involved with the Hearts Afire festivities but they could also give back to a great cause at the same time.
After the LSFD’s Chief Financial Officer, Candice Cook, passed in 2018, they wanted to be sure to keep her memory alive because for 25 years she was such an important part of the department. Cook’s family and the LCFA started the Candice M. Cook Scholarship Foundation in hopes that the fund would help and encourage firefighters to attend paramedic school.
For firefighters attending paramedic school, it not only means they advance within their careers but also gives them an opportunity to explore higher education. Because paramedic schooling can be both time-consuming and expensive (over $10,000) the LCFA and Cook’s family wanted the sole mission of their scholarship foundation to be providing funds for the cost of tuition and books for paramedic high education.
The Loveland Firefighters attempted to celebrate Cook and the scholarship foundation with a music festival in September of 2020 but unfortunately, the event had to be canceled due to the COVID-19 spike. Now the Loveland Firefighters are ready more than ever to get the Cook Foundation up and running, which is why they decided to launch their first-ever Valentine’s “Mask”erade Ball!
“Valentine’s Day in Loveland is a big deal,” Huber said, “Our city’s theme is ‘Sweetheart of Ohio.’ Every year, people from all over the world send their Valentine’s Day cards to the Loveland Post Office, where the red-clad Loveland Valentine Ladies see to it that each Cupid-themed communication receives the city’s official Valentine’s Day stamp.”
The Valentine’s “Mask”erade Ball sponsored by the Candice M. Cook Foundation will be held at the Landing Event Center in downtown Loveland on Saturday, February 12th from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. The Ball will include a beautiful dinner, an open bar, free valet parking, “casino” activities, and local entertainment featuring The Nasty Nati Brass Band. Dancing is of course encouraged and Loveland’s very own Mayor, Kathy Bailey, will be renewing wedding vows for those that are interested in “re-tying the knot!” Tickets are $65 per person or $120 per couple for the Valentine’s “Mask”erade Ball. If you cannot attend but would love to donate to the Candice M. Cook Foundation, click here.
The Valentine’s Day fun won’t end at the Landing Event Center! Beginning at 10 p.m. The Nasty Nati Brass Band will lead an impromptu 2nd line parade to the after-party, which will take place on Bishop’s Quarter’s rooftop. Those that attend will be able to enjoy New Orleans-inspired drinks and food in addition to fireworks!
We are so happy to help get the word out about this unbelievably giving event! Be sure to purchase tickets for the Valentine’s “Maskerade” Ball if you can attend and if not you can still donate to the Candice M. Cook Scholarship Foundation by clicking the button above! We hope to see you at the Ball!
For more local event updates stay tuned to the Loveland Salad With ME, Cassie Mattia!
Cassie Mattia is the Associate Editor of Loveland Magazine and lives in Historic Downtown Loveland
by Cassie Mattia
Loveland, Ohio – It’s that spooky time of year again when all the little ghouls and goblins are running amuck in search of the best candy! Well, thankfully the Candy Police are back and ready to make sure EVERYONE is able to enjoy Trick-or-Treating in Loveland!
The Loveland Police Department and the Hamilton Township Police Department will be working together this Halloween in order to bring joy and of course candy to any kids or adults with special needs who can’t physically go trick-or-treating. Could Loveland get any sweeter?!
Both police departments said that they want to make sure Halloween is a special day for not just the kids with special needs but the adults as well!
If you have a loved one who loves Halloween but is unable to Trick-or-Treat due to a disability and lives in the City of Loveland or Hamilton Township, please contact Lieutenant Mike Szpak at 513-707-6116 or through email at mszpak@lovelandoh.gov. Whether you decide to call or email Lt. Szpak, please include your name, your loved one’s name, the address you would like candy delivered to, and a phone number that you can be reached at.
The Candy Police will do their best to schedule all visits between 6 PM and 8 PM on October 31st but may have to adjust the hours due to high demand.
Unfortunately, the police departments are not able to consider the Coronavirus as a special need or disability.
Want to help the Candy Police spread Halloween spirit successfully throughout Loveland?! Please contact Lieutenant Szpak to donate any deliciously creepy treats to the Candy Police Program.
